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

LAS VEGAS, Nev.  – The Portland State softball team dropped both games of its Saturday doubleheader at the Easton Desert Classic in heartbreaking fashion. The Vikings opened the day with a 13-12 loss to Hawai'i before falling to Seattle U, 6-5, in nine innings.

The Vikings bats came to play Saturday as they recorded 18 hits while driving in 17 runs over the two games. The Vikings hit five home runs, all by different players, in their game against Hawai'i.

Junior right fielder Aubrey Nitschelm led the way going 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and a home run. She drove in five on the day while scoring a pair of runs. She raised her batting average nearly 50 points and is now hitting .296 for the season. Her 10 RBIs on the year leads the team.

The Vikings struggled in the circle on the day giving up a total of 19 runs over 16 innings for 7.60 ERA over the two games.

Game 1 – Hawai'i 13, Portland State 12

The Vikings got out to a quick lead with four runs in the top of the first inning capped by a Nitschelm three-run home run. Hawai'i countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 4-1.

After three scoreless innings the game jumped out to a 10-run lead with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Nitschelm reached on an error with one out and was immediately driven in on a two-run home run by Candice Orozco, her first of the year and second of her career.

Melissa Masters drew a pinch hit walk and was moved to second on an Alicia Fine single to left field. Mackenzie Bourbanis drove in her first run of her career with a single to center to drive in Masters from second.

Shae Nelson launched the first home run of her career with a three-run shot to drive in Fine and Bourbanis. Two batters later, Crysta Conn added to the hit parade with a solo home run of her own to put the Vikings up 11-1.

After keeping the Rainbow Wahine to just the one run over the first four innings, the game got away from PSU starting pitcher Raya Johnson. Hawai'i scored five runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 11-6.

Fine extended the Vikings' lead to 12-6 with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning becoming the fifth Viking to hit a home run in the game. The five home runs were the most by the Vikings since they hit seven against North Texas in 2006.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Rainbow Wahine was not done. They scored six more runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 12-12. The scoring was capped by a grand slam, the fourth against the Vikings this season.

After the Vikings went in order in the top of the seventh, Hawaii drove in the game-winning run on a single to left field to complete the comeback win.

Game 2 – Seattle 6, Portland State 5 (9 innings)

Seattle drew first blood with a pair of runs off Portland State starting pitcher Raya Johnson in the top of the second inning.

Nitschelm tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third with a single to left field driving in Becca Bliss and Conn. 

After Johnson gave up the two runs in the top of the second, Melissa Masters came in relief for her first appearance of the year.

Masters shut down the Redhawks over the next two innings before giving up a solo home run in the top of the fifth. The Vikings came right back to tie the game at 3-3 with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.

Seattle, once again, took the lead with a run in the top of the seventh. Portland State would not quit and pushed across another unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to push the game to extra innings.

After neither team did anything in the eight, the Redhawks started the top of the ninth with a runner at second in accordance with International Tiebreaker rules. The Redhawks moved the runner to third with a sacrifice bunt before driving in the run on a single to left field. Two more singles pushed another run across the plate and Seattle went to the bottom of the ninth with a 6-4 lead.

The Vikings placed a runner at second which was moved to third on a one-out infield single from Nelson. With two outs, Conn brought the Vikings within one with a single to right field, which drove in the runner from third.

Unfortunately, the Vikings could not get that crucial hit to drive in the tying run and they fell 6-5 in nine innings.

Masters pitched relatively well in her season debut allowing four runs, three earned, over seven innings while giving up 10 hits and striking out three. She did not allow a walk but fell to 0-1 with the loss.

The Vikings will look to get back to their winning ways Sunday when they take on Chattanooga on the final day of the Easton Desert Classic. First pitch is slated for 11:15 a.m.

NOTES: Portland State hit five home runs against Hawaii … most home runs in a game since PSU hit seven against North Texas in 2006.