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Click here to go to Washington's Tournament Central Website

THIS WEEK: Portland State heads up I-5 to play in the NCAA Seattle Regional this week. The Viks will take on No. 14/14 Washington on Thursday at 6 p.m. In the other game, No. 21/23 Auburn faces BYU at 3:30 p.m. On Friday, the winners of each contest from day one will play at 3 p.m. in game three of the regional, followed by the losers at 5:30 p.m. in game four. At 8 p.m., the winner of game four will face the loser of game three. The championship game will take place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., when the winners of games three and five meet up at 2:30 p.m. Should another game be necessary, it would follow immediately after.

NCAA SEATTLE REGIONAL  •  SEATTLE, WASH.  •  HUSKY SOFTBALL STADIUM
Thursday, May 19
Game 1: No. 2 Seed Auburn vs. No. 3 Seed BYU, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 4 Seed Portland State vs. No. 1 Seed Washington, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 20
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 21
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6
   
COVERAGE
Live Audio: GoViks.com   
Play-By-Play: Teri Mariani
Live Video: GoHuskies.com (Links on GoViks.com)   
Live Stats: GoHuskies.com (Links on GoViks.com)

Washington's Tournament Central Site: http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/w-softbl/wash-softball-tourney-central.html

HOW TO FOLLOW THE VIKS THIS WEEK: Every PSU game at the NCAA Seattle Regional will feature live audio through GoViks.com. Longtime PSU softball coach Teri Mariani will call the action over the Internet. Gametracker (live stats) and a live video feed will be provided by Washington on GoHuskies.com. Links for everything can be found under the LIVE EVENTS tab on GoViks.com.

HOW THE VIKINGS GOT HERE: The Vikings reached the NCAA tournament after sweeping the best-of-three PCSC Championship Series this past weekend from Coastal Division champion Loyola Marymount at Erv Lind Stadium. The Vikings took the opener on Friday, 3-2 in 10 innings on Carly McEachran's two-out, bases loaded single. On Saturday, PSU earned a 8-1 victory to secure their third conference title in the nine-year history of the league. The Vikings got to the PCSC Championship Series by winning the Mountain Division for the second straight year, going 16-4. Portland State won 15 of its final 16 league games after a 1-3 start. The Vikings lost three of four to Utah Valley at home during the opening weekend of conference play, but bounced back by sweeping four games from both Idaho State and Seattle on the road. They then took three of four at Northern Colorado, before sweeping four more games from Weber State.

THE PCSC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PSU is the only team to play in both of the PCSC Championship Series, which started in 2010 after the conference expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions. Last year, the Viks won the opener at Saint Mary's, before getting swept the next day. After winning the 2011 title, Viks outfielder Jenna Krogh was named the Series Most Outstanding Player and Anna Bertrand was tabbed as the Series Most Outstanding Pitcher. Krogh hit 5-for-9 (.556) with a double, triple and three RBIs, while Bertrand went 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA and held LMU to a .194 batting average. Bertrand went the distance on Saturday after pitching three innings of relief on Friday.

ROLLIN' ALONG: After opening PCSC play by losing three of four to Utah Valley, the Vikings have bounced back by winning 21 of their past 22 games overall. PSU won a DI era school record 10 straight games from April 16-26, before losing game one of a doubleheader at Northern Colorado on April 30. But they have won 11 straight since then to set a new school record at the DI level. Their 11 straight victories trails only the 1991 team's 12-game winning streak. Over the past 22 games, the Vikings are hitting a remarkable .366 and have outscored their opponents 153-33. Jenna Krogh is leading the way, hitting .500 over that span, while Carly McEachran is batting .463 and Danielle Lynn is hitting .462. Arielle Wiser (.391), Crysta Conn (.346) and Lacey Holm (.333) have also swung the bat very well. In the circle, Anna Bertrand (11-0, 1.27 ERA), Nichole Latham (8-1, 1.44 ERA) and Karmen Holladay (2-0, 0.00 ERA) have teammed up for a 1.18 ERA and to hold the opposition to just a .187 batting average.

RISING TO THE TOP OF THE PCSC: With their third PCSC title in the bag, the Vikings are now tied with Loyola Marymount for the most conference championships in the nine-year history of the league. PSU also won the title in 2006 and 2009 to advance to the NCAA tournament. Since 2006, Portland State has a conference best 85-34 record in league games. PSU's opponent in the PCSC Championship Series, Loyola Marymount, has the second best record at 75-45. Overall, LMU has tallied 192 wins since 2006, while PSU has registered 185.

BACK-TO-BACK MOUNTAIN DIVISION TITLES: Portland State captured its second straight PCSC Mountain Division title with their sweep of Weber State on Saturday May 7. With Utah Valley losing twice against Idaho State on May 6, that meant PSU had to win two of four games against the Wildcats. They took care of business on Saturday, winning by identical 8-0 scores. The Vikings have a 34-6 league record over the past two seasons, the best amongst all 12 PCSC schools. PSU won the Mountain Division title with an 18-2 mark last season, then went 16-4 this spring.

TOPPING THE 30-WIN PLATEAU: Portland State has reached the 30-win plateau for the second straight season and the third time in the past six years. The Vikings went 30-27 a year ago after finishing 29-26 in 2009 in what was Tobin Echo-Hawk's first season as head coach. At 34-16 this year, the Vikings have recorded the second most victories in their NCAA DI era, trailing only the 2006 team, which finished 38-20.

VIKINGS DOMINATE ALL-PCSC HONORS: Portland State dominated the All-PCSC Mountain Division selections, having 10 players earn all-conference accoloades and also sweeping three of the four individual awards. Tobin Echo-Hawk was tri-coach of the year along with Northern Colorado's Mark Montgomery and Utah Valley's Todd Fairbourne to earn her third straight honor. Carly McEachran was co-player of the year, even though her numbers were superior to the athlete she shared it with, Northern Colorado's Kelli Henderson. McEachran hit .475 with four homers and 19 RBIs, compared to Henderson's .418 average, one home run and 14 RBIs. Nichole Latham earned the pitcher of the year award, just edging teammate Anna Bertrand. Latham went 8-2 with a 1.67 ERA in PCSC play. Joining Bertrand, Latham and McEachran on the Mountain Division first team were outfielder Jenna Krogh, utility player Sadie Lopez, first baseman Karmen Holladay, shortstop Arielle Wiser and third baseman Crysta Conn. Earning second team recognition were catcher Lacey Holm and outfielder Becca Bliss.

PCSC LEADERS: The Vikings head into the NCAA tourney leading the PCSC in batting average with a .311 mark. PSU has never finished the season leading the conference in that category. They also lead the league in slugging percentage, triples and sac flies, while ranking second in runs, RBIs and on-base percentage. In conference-only games, they hit a league-best .360, which was 50 points higher than the next best team, Northern Colorado. In the circle, the Viks lead the PCSC in earned run average, shutouts, complete games, strikeouts and batting average against, while ranking second in fewest runs allowed. In league games, the Viks led all teams in ERA, shutouts and strikeouts.

DRIVING IN THE RUNS: The Vikings have driven in 241 runs as a team this spring, the most in school history. This past weekend against LMU, the Vikings passed up the 1996 team, which tallied 238 RBIs. Six players have recorded at least 20 RBIs, the most since seven Vikings had 20+ RBIs during the 1991 season. They also have three players – Lacey Holm (40), Crysta Conn (30)  and Carly McEachran – with at least 30 RBIs, the second most in school history. The 1997 team had four players reach that total.

SUCCESS STARTS AT THE TOP: Portland State's softball team has experienced great success under Head Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk. Over the past two-plus seasons the Vikings have a 93-69 overall mark and 49-11 conference record under Echo-Hawk, who was an assistant with the program for two seasons before being promoted to the top spot on Sept. 12, 2008. Echo-Hawk was the 2009 PCSC Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to the conference title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. In 2010, she was voted as the PCSC Mountain Division Coach of the Year after guiding PSU to a 18-2 league mark. The 18 league wins set a school record and also matched the 2007 Loyola Marymount team for the most wins in PCSC history.