Box Score (HTML)

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – One day after playing some of their best ball of the season, the Portland State softball team crashed back to earth with a 8-0, five-inning loss at UC Riverside on Sunday afternoon.

The Vikings squandered several opportunities over the first three innings to get on the scoreboard, helped the host Highlanders score early by issuing walks and committing an error, then watched as UC Riverside dominated late.

Through the first four batters of the game it appeared the Vikings would build off their two victories a day earlier. But after loading the bases with one out, they didn't capitalize and failed to score. They then left a pair of runners on in the second and another in the third, before going down quietly in each of the last two innings.

UC Riverside (7-11), meanwhile came through when they had chances to score. In the bottom of the first Jordyn McDonald drew a one-out walk, stole second and came home on Jessica Vasser's single to right field. The Highlanders scored again in the next frame despite PSU's Anna Bertrand fanning three batters. Just like the prior inning, UC Riverside used a one-out walk and its speed to go up 2-0. Ariel Shore was the culprit this time, walking, stealing second, then third and scoring on an errant throw by Vikings catcher Maggie Sholian.

The Highlanders broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning, then finished off the Vikings due to the eight-run rule by adding two more runs in the fifth.

Taylor Alvarez pitched a complete-game for UC Riverside, improving to 1-2. After allowing four singles over the first three innings, Alvarez sat down the Vikings down in order in each of the last two frames.

UC Riverside finished with eight hits, as Shore went 2-for-2 with four RBIs. She and Kayla White both hit two-run triples in the contest.

Bertrand (7-5) took the loss for the Vikings after giving up six runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. She struck out seven.

Portland State is off next week and returns to the field on March 12, when they play their home opener against North Dakota. The doubleheader will start at 2 p.m.

NOTES: The Vikings finished the four-day Highlander Classic with a 2-3 record. They are 9-10 on the season ... UC Riverside blanked the Vikings twice at the tourney, including a 5-0 win on Thursday ... after hosting North Dakota on Monday, March 12, the Vikings will welcome in top-ranked Alabama two days later. The teams will play at 6 p.m. at Erv Lind Stadium ... Crysta Conn and Danai Martin were the lone Vikings to hit over .300 in Riverside. Conn batted .462 (6-for-13), while Martin hit .375 (3-for-8).