Box Score
Box Score - PDF | HTML

TEMPE, Ariz. – The bats came alive and the pitching was strong as the Portland State Softball team defeated the Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 5-3 on the final day of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Carly McEachran led-off the game for the Vikings with a four-pitch walk and was moved to second on Becca Bliss' sacrifice bunt. Bliss reached base safely thanks to a throwing error by the Kentucky pitcher allowing both runners to move up a base in the process.

With runners at second and third with no outs, freshman catcher Lauran Bliss hit a deep shot to right center that one-hopped over the fence for a two-RBI ground rule double scoring McEachran and Becca Bliss giving the Vikings an early 2-0 advantage.

Aubrey Nitschelm moved Lauran Bliss to third on a ground out. Crysta Conn drove in Lauran Bliss from third on a hot shot off the Kentucky third baseman's glove giving the Vikings a 3-0 lead.

The three run advantage did not last long as the Wildcats added two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Vikings' starting pitcher Raya Johnson struggled to throw strikes early.

Kentucky threatened to tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the second inning when the Wildcats got a one-out bunt single. The runner quickly stole second. After a walk to the next batter, the Wildcats attempted a double steal but Lauran Bliss gunned down the runner headed to third for the second out of the inning.

After Johnson surrendered another walk she was lifted for senior pitcher Anna Bertrand. Bertrand went inside on the next batter and just grazed the hitters elbow loading the bases with two outs. She then got out of the inning with a fly ball to centerfield for the third out. Kentucky left three runners on in the inning and ended the game stranding 10 runners.

Kentucky again threatened with the bases loaded and two outs in the third but Bertrand included another fly ball to the outfield to get out of the jam.

Becca Bliss and Lauran Bliss both reached safely to start the top of the fifth inning. After the next batter popped into an infield fly, Conn singled up the middle to load the bases. Freshman Candice Orozco, playing as the designated player, came up next and recorded her first Portland State hit with a ground rule double over the centerfielder's head driving in two runs pushing the Vikings lead to 5-2.

Betrand settled into a grove over the middle innings facing just one batter over the minimum. The Wildcats added a run in the bottom of the seventh but got the last batter to ground out to third securing the Vikings second win and her first of the season.

Bertrand threw 5 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run on three hits. She walked two and struck out six improving to 1-3 on the season.

Lauran Bliss finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Conn went 3-for-3 with a RBI while Orozco went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs on her first career Portland State hit. 

The Vikings play one more game at the Kajikawa Classic Sunday afternoon against the Indiana Hoosiers. The game is slated for a 12:30 p.m. PT/1:30 p.m. MT start but may start earlier depending on pace of play in the preceding games.