Box Score (HTML)

TEMPE – Portland State closed out the Kajikawa Classic on Sunday afternoon by coming out flat and spotting Utah a pair of runs in the first inning in a 3-1 defeat at the Tempe Sports Complex.

The Vikings finished the season-opening, four-day tournament with a 2-3 record. Utah went 2-2.

Utah pounded out 10 hits and pitcher Generra Nielson kept the Vikings at bay over seven solid innings as the Utes won their fifth-straight over PSU.

Leadoff batter Kelsi Hoopiiaina was a terror at the plate all day for Utah. She led the bottom of the first off with a double to right center and scored the games first run on a single up the middle by Joni Cook. The junior also had a sharply-hit single to left field in the second and roped two more balls, but both times a Viking defender was there to take away what looked like a sure hit.

The Utes plated two runs in the opening inning, then let Nielson do the rest in the circle.

Portland State's best chance at getting back in the game came in the fifth, but Hoopiiaina ruined it with a nice play from her shortstop position.

After Karmen Holladay singled to center, Brittany Hendrickson hit a ball up the middle that looked like it would get through to the outfield. But Hoopiiaina dove and was able to knock the ball down, where it rolled to a waiting Jackie Sweet who was standing on second base. Sweet almost turned a double play, but Hendrickson hustled down the line to beat out the throw. PSU still had a shot following a single by Alexa Morales, but Nielson induced back-to-back pop ups to end the inning.

PSU didn't do go down quietly in their last turn at-bat, finally breaking through on the scoreboard.

Holladay singled back up the middle with one out, and following a strikeout, Morales dumped a ball into shallow right field. Pinch-runner Sadie Lopez wheeled from first to third on the play, prompting right fielder Kate Dickman into a throw that sailed into the Utes dugout along the third base line. Lopez came home on the error, but again Nielson silenced the Vikings with another pop up, this one to end the game.

Portland State managed just five hits, getting two apiece from Holladay and Morales. Following Jenna Krogh's infield bunt single to open the game, Nielson retired the next 12 Viking batters she faced.

Leading Utah's 10-hit attack was Hoopiiaina with a 2-for-4 effort, while Cook and Tia Palauni both also registered two hits.

Holladay went the distance on the mound for Portland State, walking one and striking out one. She fell to 0-2.

The Vikings next head to Las Vegas, where they will play five games at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic hosted by UNLV, from Feb. 16-19.

NOTES: Morales (.400), Holladay (.385) and Krogh (.375) all hit over .300 on the weekend. PSU batted .262 ... the Vikings played good defense at the tournament, committing just four errors. They had three errorless contests ... PSU failed to get an extra-base hit against Utah, the only time at the Kajikawa that they didn't record one ... the Vikings face Utah again next week on Feb. 18 ... PSU opens the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic against BYU on Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. PT. That game will be at UNLV's home stadium, while the last four will be played at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson. All five games can be heard on GoViks.com and live stats will also be available.