Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game 1 Box Score - PDF | HTML
Game 2 Box Score - PDF | HTML

BOISE, Idaho – Freshman Candice Orozco hit .500 going 3-for-6 on the day as the Vikings split a doubleheader on the final day of the SpringHill Suites Invitational in Boise, Idaho. The Vikings opened the day defeating Utah State by a score of 7-0 before falling to host Boise State 6-2.

Orozco went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a career-high three runs batted in in the first game of the day against Utah State. Alicia Fine also went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs against the Aggies.

Senior pitcher Anna Bertrand went 1-1 on the day with a 0.91 earned run average allowing just one earned run in 7 2/3 innings pitched, while striking out three and walking three. 

Game 1 – Portland State (7-19) 7, Utah State (5-21) 0

Bertrand threw her second complete game shutout of the season throwing a two hitter against Utah State in the first game of the doubleheader. Bertrand walked one and struck out three while allowing only one runner to reach second base. She improved to 4-11 with the win.

Portland State got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Fine led off the inning with a solo home run, her third long ball of the season. Two outs later, Carly McEachran singled and then stole second base. She came in to score on a Becca Bliss single to right field giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead.

Fine drove in two more runs in the fourth with a two-run double to left center scoring Brittany Hendrickson and Orozco who reached via a walk and double respectively.

After Crysta Conn hit a two-out double in the fifth, back-to-back walks to Hendrickson and pinch hitter Aubrey Nitschelm loaded the bases. Orozco then brought everyone home with a three-run double to right field.

Orozco and Fine each went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs in the game. Four other Vikings recorded hits in the game as they outhit the Aggies 8-to-2.

Noelle Johnson threw 4 1/3 innings for Utah State allowing four runs on five hits. She fell to 2-7 with the loss. Shelbi Tyteca finished the game throwing the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on three hits while walking three.

Game 2 – Boise State (12-15) 6, Portland State (7-20) 2

Becca Bliss got the Vikings on the board in the top of the first with a one-out solo home run, her third of the year. Alexa Morales added another one-out home run for the Vikings in the top of the fifth increasing their lead to 2-0.

The Vikings held the 2-0 lead until the Broncos scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Three of the runs were unearned as the Vikings committed a pair of errors in the inning.

Portland State starting pitcher Karyn Wright threw five shutout innings before giving up two runs in the sixth. She threw 5 1/3 innings and gave up two earned runs on only four hits for the game.

Bertrand relieved Wright with runners at second and third and one out in the sixth. She hit the first batter to load the bases. The next two batters drove in runs on a single to center field and a walk respectively. Bertrand induced a lineout to center for the second out of the inning. The next batter hit a single up the middle giving the Broncos a 3-2 lead.

After the next batter reached on an error, the Broncos scored three more runs in the inning, all unearned to take a 6-2 lead through six innings.

Bertrand picked up the loss allowing four runs, one earned, on three hits while recording the final two outs for the Vikings.

Lela Work threw a complete game for the Broncos allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out five. She improved to 3-3 on the season.

Sunday was the final day of non-conference play for the Vikings as they open Big Sky Conference play next weekend when they host Southern Utah for a three-game set. It will be the Vikings' first home games of the season. The series starts with a doubleheader Friday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at Erv Lind Stadium.

Notes: Candice Orozco went 3-for-6 on the day and drove in a career-high three runs batted in against Utah State … Anna Bertrand went 1-1 with a 0.91 ERA throwing 7 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on the day.