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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Sophomore Brittany Hendrickson broke up the shutout with a two-run home run to straight away center field but it was too little, too late as the Vikings fell to the UNLV Rebels 5-2 at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. as part of the Easton Desert Classic.

The Vikings went into the top of the seventh on the wrong end of a no-hit bid by Rebels' pitcher Amanda Oliveto.

Freshman Lauran Bliss led off the top of the seventh for the Vikings with a ground out to second. Junior Crysta Conn popped out to short for the second out. All that stood between Oliveto and a no-hitter was Vikings' freshman outfield Candice Orozco.

Orozco has come up with some clutch hits for the Vikings so far this season. Her first career hit came as a two-run double in a 5-3 win over Kentucky last weekend at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Earlier today Orozco drove in the tying run for the Vikings in a 3-2 win over Cal State Fullerton.

Orozco came up big again for the Vikings as she broke up Oliveto's no-hit bid with a full-count single to right field. After Orozco was lifted for pinch runner Lexi Goranson, Hendrickson came to the plate and blasted her first home run of the season to straight away center field for a two-run shot to break up the shutout. Unfortunately for the Vikings it was not enough as they fell to the Rebels 5-2 to drop to 3-5 on the season.

It was one big inning for the Rebels that did in the Vikings Friday afternoon. UNLV plated five runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning off Vikings' starter Anna Bertrand. The Rebels scored five runs on three hits and the aide of a PSU error.

Bertrand drops to 1-4 on the season with the loss after throwing six innings giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Oliveto improves to 4-1 on the season after the complete game two-hitter. She allowed just two earned runs while walking two and striking out two.

Portland State returns to action tomorrow, Feb. 15, with a pair of games at the Easton Desert Classic. The Vikings take on the BYU Cougars at 1:30 p.m. before taking on the Nevada Wolf Pack at 6 p.m. Both start times are scheduled starts and may change due to pace of play earlier in the day.

NOTES: UNLV pitcher Amanda Oliveto had a no-hitter with two outs in the top of the seventh before PSU's Candice Orozco singled to right field … Brittany Hendrickson hit her first home run of the season to break up the shutout in the top of the seventh … Hendrickson went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs in the game.