Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – Aubrey Nitschelm hit a walk-off three-run home run in a five-run fifth inning for the Vikings as they won it 8-0 in five innings over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the opening game of the inaugural Big Sky Softball Tournament. Nitschelm's first home run of the season capped a 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Nitschelm singled in the second before getting another single and scoring in the fourth. She then hit the three-run home run going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and three runs batted in. It was the first walk-off home run via the run rule for the Vikings since Karmen Holliday walked off against Cal Poly last season that also secured Anna Bertrand's first career no-hitter.

Bertrand did not put together a no-hit bid against the T-Birds but she did throw a complete game two-hitter for the Vikings. She threw five complete innings and allowed only two hits while walking three and striking out three. She improved to 19-15 on the season and became the first Viking to surpass the 800 career strikeout mark. She now has 801 for her career.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Becca Bliss reached base after an illegal pitch was called with a full count. Bliss struck out on the pitch but the illegal pitch sent her to first base. Brittany Hendrickson, the Vikings RBI leader, blasted an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence to give the Vikings an early 2-0 lead. It was her team-best ninth home run of the season and the first ever at the Big Sky Softball Tournament.

Southern Utah got a runner on base in each of the next two innings but Bertrand did not allow either runners to advance past first. The T-Birds finally put some pressure on Bertrand in the top of the fourth when they got runners on first and second with nobody out. Bertrand picked up her first strikeout of the game for the first out. She then induced an infield ground for the second but both runners advanced on the play. The next Thunderbird grounded out to Crysta Conn at third base to end the inning and get the Vikings out of the jam.

After the first two batters recorded outs in the bottom of the fourth, Nitschelm singled to center field. Sadie Lopez hit a hard shot through the right side to move Nitschelm to second. The SUU right fielder bobbled the ball allowing Nitschelm to advance to third. Carly McEacrhan reached on the second error of the inning, bringing in Nitschelm from third giving the Vikings a 3-0 lead.

Following the extra run in the third, Bertrand set down the Thunderbirds in order, including a pair of strikeouts that sent the game to the bottom of the fifth.

Three straight singles by Hendrickson, Conn, and Alicia Fine loaded the bases for Lauran Bliss with nobody out. L. Bliss singled up the middle driving in a pair of runs for the Vikings increasing their lead to 5-0 and forcing the Thunderbirds to change pitchers.

Two batters later Nitschelm blasted her first home of the season, a three-run home run, that won it for the Vikings 8-0.

Ariel Zimmerman started for the Thunderbirds and went four innings while giving up nine hits and allowing seven runs, six earned. She walked one and struck out seven Vikings in the game. She fell to 10-19 with the loss.

With the win, the Vikings move on in the tournament winner's bracket. They will face the winner of the Sacramento State and Idaho State game being played this afternoon. The Vikings and the ISU vs. Sacramento State winner will play Friday at 9 a.m. PDT. The Vikings went 2-1 against Sacramento State and 1-2 against Idaho State this season.

NOTES: Aubrey Nitschelm set career-highs in hits (3) and RBIs (3) in the game … Nitschelm hit the first walk-off home run for the Vikings via the run rule since Karmen Holliday walked-off against Call Poly (2/10/12) …  Brittany Hendrickson hit her team-best ninth home run of the season … Hendrickson hit the first ever home run in Big Sky Softball Tournament history … Anna Bertrand became the first Viking to surpass the 800 career win mark … Bertrand has 801 career strikeouts … The Portland State softball team is one win away from 900 as a program.