Game One Box Score (HTML)  |  Game Two Box Score (HTML)


OREM, Utah – Portland State opened up Pacific Coast Softball Conference action on Friday at Utah Valley by outhitting the Wolverines 18-8, but managed just a split of a doubleheader after failing to come up with timely hits in the second game.

Portland State took game one, 7-0, before the Wolverines won the second contest, 1-0. PSU is now 11-14, 1-1 PCSC, while Utah Valley is 20-8-1, 1-1 PCSC. The teams meet again tomorrow for another doubleheader starting at 9 a.m. PT.

The Vikings scored in every inning except the third in the opener, riding 11 hits and the pitching of Anna Bertrand and Raya Johnson to the 7-0 victory.

PSU got on the board right away after their second hitter of the game, Alicia Fine, tripled to right field and scored on Crysta Conn's groundout. Conn made it 2-0 in the second inning with a run-scoring single to right field.

Fine singled home another run in the fourth, before Carly McEachran and Becca Bliss knocked in runs in the next frame. McEachran drove in pinch runner Aubrey Nitschelm on a groundout, while Bliss tripled to right field to plate Brittany Hendrickson.

The Vikings tacked on solo runs in the sixth and seventh on a double by Fine and a groundout by Jordan Goschie.

Fine led the offensive charge, going 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and two extra base hits, while Danai Martin batted 2-for-3. Seven Portland State starters had at least one hit.

Bertrand, meanwhile, was her usual dominant self in the circle. She worked five innings and allowed only four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Raya Johnson pitched two innings of hitless relief, walking one and striking out two.

Tiffany Mills (10-6) suffered the loss for the Wolverines after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. Marie Williams led Utah Valley with a pair of singles.

In game two, the Vikings outhit Utah Valley, 7-4, but couldn't come up with the timely hit when needed. Case in point came in their final turn at-bat after Becca Bliss led off with a double, but was stranded at second after Mills retired the next three batters.

The Vikings had at least one hit in each of the last six innings and eventually chased Utah Valley starter Cassie Herrera in the sixth after putting a pair of runners aboard.

Utah Valley scored its lone run in the bottom of the first after Kylee Brinkerhoff led off with a triple and scored on Williams' bunt single.

Herrera got the victory, improving to 6-1 after working the first 5 2/3 innings. She gave up six hits with one walk, before Mills came on to earn her seventh save.

Johnson (1-4) threw one of the better games of her freshman season, scattering four hits to go along with one walk and five Ks in a complete game performance.

"Raya pitched a great game. It was definitely the best I've seen her throw yet," said Vikings Head Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk. "We should have won that game for her, but we just couldn't get the hits when we needed them."

Jenna Krogh led the Vikings with a pair of singles from her leadoff spot.

NOTES: Bertrand earned her 41st career victory and moved into a tie for ninth all-time at Portland State. It was her first win over Utah Valley in five starts despite striking out 37 and holding the Wolverines to a .194 batting average over the past two seasons ... PSU has now won five of its past six PCSC openers ... the Vikings tied their season high by drawing five walks in game one ... PSU hit .316 on the day, while Bertrand and Johnson held UVU to a .190 batting average.