Box Score
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Brittany Hendrickson ended the Vikings' regular season  with her first career grand slam as the Vikings powered past North Dakota 11-2 Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D. Hendrickson went 3-for-4 with a run scored and her third five-RBI game of the season to lead the Vikings.

Hendrickson's home run was her eighth of the season. In addition she now has 40 runs batted in on the season which ties her for fourth on the Portland State all-time single season RBI list.

Two other Vikings (22-29 overall, 14-4 Big Sky Conference) had multiple hits on the day. Carly McEachran went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. She also hit her second triple of the year, the eighth of her career. Aubrey Nitschelm tied her career-high with a pair of hits, and scored a career-high three times for the Vikings.

North Dakota (10-30, 2-10) got on the board with a pair of runs off Vikings' starting pitcher Anna Bertrand. Bertrand gave up four straight hits to start the bottom of the first before getting a groundout for the first out. She then struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Bertrand gave up just one more hit in the game over the next four innings she pitched. She threw five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. She walked one and struck out six. She improved her record to 18-15 on the season with the win.

The North Dakota lead did not last long as the Vikings put a four-spot on the board in the top of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Alexa Morales drove in the first run for the Vikings with a sacrifice fly to left field. Two batters later, Sadie Lopez drove in two with a single to right; she was thrown out at second trying to advance on the throw.

After McEachran tripled down the right field line, Becca Bliss singled through the left side to drive in McEachran and giving the Vikings the 4-2 lead.

Portland State added five more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-2 lead. After the Vikings loaded the bases with one out, Hendrickson hit her first career grand slam to center field. It was the first grand slam by a Vikings since Alicia Fine hit one at Northern Colorado last season. The Vikings added another run in the inning to take the 9-2 lead.

The Vikings took an 11-2 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Raya Johnson threw the final two innings for the Vikings. She allowed just one hit while striking out three.

Portland State finished the regular season with a 22-29 overall record, 14-4 in Big Sky play. The Vikings will play in the inaugural Big Sky Softball Tournament next weekend. The site of the tournament has yet to be determined. If Idaho State wins at least two games of its three-game series at Sacramento State it will host. If Sacramento State takes the series, Portland State will host.

NOTES: Anna Bertrand increased her career records to 73 wins and 798 strikeouts … Bertrand surpassed the 800 career innings mark Saturday … Brittany Hendrickson hit her eighth home run of the season … Hendrickson now has 40 RBIs on the season which is tied for fourth on the PSU single-season list.