Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2

GREELEY, Colo. – Alicia Fine's career day helped the Vikings split their doubleheader on Sunday against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. Fine hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in the first game to give the Vikings and 8-4 victory. The Vikings (18-17 overall, 8-4 Pacific Coast Softball Conference) then dropped the second game of the day, 8-4, to split the doubleheader and the season series with the Bears (19-25, 4-8).
 
With one swing of the bat, Fine capped a career best 5-for-5 game. She set career marks in hits (5), runs scored (2), runs batted in (5) and total bases (10) in the first game of the doubleheader helping the Vikings take the game 8-4 in nine innings. Fine went 11-for-17 on the weekend with five runs scored, three doubles, a home run, seven runs batted in and 17 total bases for a slugging percentage of 1.000.
 
After taking the first game of the doubleheader, the Vikings dropped the second by a score of 10-4 after surrendering five unearned runs in the game, four in the top of the sixth.
 
Game 1 – Portland State 8, Northern Colorado 4
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Vikings picked up one run in the bottom of the  second off a RBI double by Kayla Norie and then one more in the third with Karmen Holladay doubling in Jenna Krogh to take a 2-0 lead after three innings.
 
The Bears picked up a run in the top of the fourth which was countered by another Vikings run in the bottom of the fifth giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead going to the top of the seventh, just three outs away from a win. That's when the fun started.
 
The Bears started the top of the seventh with a fly out to left for the first out. The next hitter walked followed by a lineout to the shortstop for the second out. With a runner on first and two outs the Bears poked a single through the left side moving the runner to second.
 
A five-pitch walk loaded the bases for the Bears with two outs and down by two. The Bears then doubled to left field clearing the bases with the batter being thrown out at third to end the inning trying to stretch the double to a triple but the damage was done and the Bears took a 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh left the Vikings down to their last out but Holladay kept the Vikings alive with an infield single to the shortstop. Jordan Goschie then pinch ran for Holladay at first. Crysta Conn was then hit by a pitch to move the tying run to second for the Vikings with Fine coming to the plate.
 
Fine then hit a single to right field brining in Goschie from second to tie the game. Conn tied to come all the way around from first to win the game but was gunned down at home on a relay throw to end the seventh tied at 4-4.
 
As if the last inning was not crazy enough, and with both teams readying for extra innings, the weather turned and a hail started coming down causing a weather delay.
 
After 1:45 delay, Anna Bertrand headed back out to the circle looking to go the distance once again. She had set a career-best nine innings pitched against Idaho State last weekend which she would match Sunday. She threw perfect eighth and ninth innings to position the Vikings ready to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Brittany Hendrickson pinch hit for Sadie Lopez to start the bottom of the ninth and reached on an infield single to the second baseman to lead off the inning. A Krogh walk put runner on first and second with no outs. Carly McEachran dropped down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners to third and second with one out and the winning run just 60-feet away.
 
The bears then intentionally walked Holladay, who had reentered earlier, looking to induce a double play and get out of the inning. Conn flied out in foul territory to the first baseman for the second out when Fine stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. With a hitters count at three balls and one strike, Fine belted the game-winning grand slam over the left field fence to give the Vikings the 8-4 victory.
 
Fine's grand slam ended the 4:57, nine inning, marathon game with the two teams slated for a doubleheader. Fine went 5-for-5 in the game with five runs batted in and two runs scored.
 
Bertrand tied her career-best with a complete game nine innings performance. She allowed four earned runs on six hits while striking out one and walking six to pick up her 15th win of the season.
 
Game 2 – Northern Colorado 10, Portland State 4
 
The Vikings carried momentum into the second game of the doubleheader and picked up two quick runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Krogh reached on an error by the first baseman to start the game but was thrown out at second when McEachran reached on a fielder's choice.
 
After Holladay flied out to center field, McEachran stole second moving into scoring position and was quickly driven in when Fine doubled down the left field line. Fine then scored on a Alexa Morales RBI single to center giving the Vikings the early 2-0 lead.
 
Each team then picked up a run in the second inning giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead heading to the top of the third inning. A two-run home run and a two errors on a double added three runs for the Bears in the top of the third giving them a 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the third.
 
Fine drove in another run in the third evening the score at 4-4 but that would be the extent of the scoring for the Vikings.
 
Bertrand started game two and pitched four inning before being driven from the game in the fifth after loading the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch without recording an out in the innings. The Bears would add two runs, which would be credited to Bertrand. She pitched four innings giving up six runs, five earned, while walking six and striking out one and would be credited with the loss dropping her to 15-10 on the season.
 
Raya Johnson would throw the final three innings of the game in relief and would surrender four unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning giving the Bears the 10-4 lead. The Vikings could not mount another comeback late and would only get three runners on base in the final four innings.
 
The Vikings stay in the state of Colorado for a Monday non-conference game against Colorado State which is slated to start at 12 p.m. PDT.