Box Score
SEATTLE – The Portland State Vikings held the No. 11 Washington Huskies to only one hit but fell in a heartbreaker by a score of 2-1 Friday night in first round NCAA Regional action at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle, Wash.

Portland State (25-30 overall) senior pitcher Anna Bertrand threw a complete game one-hitter but walked six and struck out just one. The walks came at inopportune times as both Huskies that scored reached on walks. Bertrand fell to 21-16 with the loss. 

The Vikings struggled their first time through the lineup against Washington starter Bryana Walker. Walker struck out six of the first nine batters she faced, all swinging. Walker finished the game with a career-high 13 strikeouts and improved to 15-7 with the win. 

Carly McEachran changed the tone for Viking hitters the second time through the lineup with a solo home run deep over the left field fence to lead off the top of the fourth to give the Vikings an early 1-0 lead.

Washington (39-15) tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk came around to score on a double. The Huskies looked like they were going to break the game wide open with a pair of runners on with one out in the fourth. Bertrand induced a fly ball to Aubrey Nitschlem in right for the second out. Alicia Fine ended the inning with a diving play to her right. She jumped to her feet and got the lead runner at third for the final out.

Bertrand recorded her 200th strikeout of the season by getting Kylee Lahners to strike out looking for the first out in the bottom of the fourth. Bertrand became the first Viking to have three 200-plus strikeout seasons.

The Huskies added an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning on three walks and an error by the Vikings. They took the 2-1 lead when Kaitlin Inglesby hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field. Inglesby drove in both of the Huskies runs in the game.

After McEachran's home run in the top of the fourth, Walker set the Vikings down in order in the fifth and sixth innings.

Washington got a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth and looked to putting something together when Fine made her second terrific defensive play of the day, fielding a ball in the hole between short and third. She spun around and went the short way to get the lead runner at second aided by a nice stretch at the bag from McEachran. The next batter flied out to Sadie Lopez in left to end the inning.

Crysta Conn hit a one-out gap shot to left center field before being lifted for pinch runner Lexi Goranson. Unfortunately the next two hitters recorded outs to end the Vikings' comeback chances.

With the loss the Vikings move in to the Seattle Regional consolation bracket where they will meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 3:30 Saturday afternoon.

NOTES: Anna Bertrand recorded her 200th strikeout of the season with the first out in the bottom of the fourth ... Bertrand became the first Viking to have three 200-plus strikeout seasons … Carly McEacrhan hit her ninth home run of the season … McEacrhan is now in a tie for seventh on the PSU all-time single-season home run list with teammate Brittany Hendrickson … McEachran has 19 career home runs which is third best all-time.