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HENDERSON, Nev. – The Vikings blasted their way to a 5-3 win over the BYU Cougars with a trio of home runs in their first game of the day at the Easton Desert Classic.

Three different Vikings hit their first home run of the season against the Cougars. Junior Becca Bliss hit a solo shot in the bottom of the first followed by sophomore Alicia Fine's solo shot in the bottom of the second. Senior Alexa Morales drove in the game-winning run with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth giving the Vikings the lead for good.

Senior pitcher Anna Bertrand got into a little trouble in the first with two runners on and one out. She then settled down striking out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Bliss gave the Vikings their first lead of the day at 1-0 with a solo home run to straight away center field. Bliss hit just one home run last year coming in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship Series against Saint Mary's. She went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI against the Cougars Saturday.

BYU tied the game in the top of the second with an unearned run. With two outs, Coryn Tauali'i hit a grounder back to Bertrand and reached safely when Bertrand threw the ball away. The ball careened off Tauali'i's helmet and went all the way to the right field fence allowing her to come all the way around to score on the play. Bertrand got the next batter to pop out to third but the damage was done and the game was tied at 1-1.

The game did not stay tied very long as Fine came to the plate with one out in the bottom of the second. After hitting several hot shots foul she worked the count full. She then hit the ball over the left field fence giving the Vikings back the lead at 2-1.

Neither team did anything in the third before BYU came back with a pair of runs to take their first lead of the game at 3-2. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out and then scored two runs on back-to-back soft singles to the outfield. Freshman Brianna Celaya came up with a spectacular diving catch in left giving the Vikings their second out of the inning. Bertrand then induced a grounder to Fine at short for the final out of the inning, stranding the bases loaded.

That was the last time the Cougars would be able to mount any kind of offense as Bertrand shut them down in order over the next three innings to secure her second win of the season. Bertrand threw a complete game giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits while walking two and striking out seven.

Candice Orozco led off the bottom of the fourth with the Vikings trailing 3-2. She singled to left before being lifted for pinch runner Sadie Petersen. Petersen was moved to second on a Fine sacrifice bunt. She was then driven in on a Crysta Conn double to right center tying the game at 3-3.

Designated player Morales came to the plate next and on a 2-1 pitch hit a two-run shot giving the Vikings the final 5-3 lead. Morales went 1-for-1 with a home run and a second inning hit by pitch. She scored one run and drove in her first two runs of the game.

Hannah Howell suffered the loss in the game throwing 3 1/3 innings and allowing five earned runs on six hits. She also walked one, hit one, and gave up three home runs.

To find the last time the Vikings hit three or more home runs in a single game you have to go back to the 2011 season when they hit four in an 11-0 win over Weber State.

The Vikings return to action this evening against Nevada. The game is slated to start at 6 p.m. but may be pushed back due to pace of play earlier in the day.