Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. – Senior Carly McEachran hit a home run on the first pitch she saw leading off the bottom of the first for the Vikings but it would not be enough as they dropped their season opener to the San Jose State Spartans, 12-2, in five innings at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

McEachran got the Vikings (0-1 overall) on the board in the bottom of the first with a leadoff solo home run on the first pitch she saw on the season. It is believed to be the first time a Viking has hit a home run on the first pitch of the season.

The Spartans (1-0) got on the board in the second with a five-run inning off Vikings' pitcher junior Anna Bertrand. Bertrand gave up four more runs in the third on a double and a three-run home run suffering her first loss of the season.

Portland State added a run in the bottom of the second when sophomore shortstop Alicia Fine reached with a leadoff walk. She would come around to score on a RBI single to right by freshman catcher Lauran Bliss but that would be the last threat the Vikings would muster.

Sophomore Raya Johnson came in the game for Bertrand in the top of the fourth with San Jose State leading 9-2. After getting the leadoff hitter to fly out, the next two Spartans reached base. Back-to-back RBI singles through the left side later in the inning plated three more runs for the Spartans and they led 12-2 going to the bottom of the fourth. 

The Vikings got a two-out single by senior Sadie Lopez in the bottom of the fourth and a walk by Lauran Bliss in the fifth but those would be the final two base runners for the Vikings as they would lose 12-2 in five innings.

Freshman pitcher Karyn Wright threw the final inning for the Vikings and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning on just nine pitches. She recorded her first career PSU strikeout to end the inning.

San Jose State's Amanda Pridmore threw a complete game giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out six and was credited with the win.

The Vikings continue play at the Kajikawa Classic with a pair of games Friday. They take on the Broncos of Boise State at 9 p.m. PST before taking on No. 21 (NFCA) Stanford at 1:30 PST.

NOTES: Carly McEachran became the first Viking in program history to homer on the first pitch of a season … Freshmen Candice Orozco, Melissa Masters, Lauran Bliss, Lexi Goranson, and Karyn Wright all made the PSU debuts … Lauran Bliss went 1-for-1 with a walk and a RBI in her debut.