Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
TEMPE, AZ – The Portland State softball team split another day-night doubleheader Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Portland State opened the day with a 10-0 win over New Mexico in five innings. The Vikings then lost to the Utah Utes, 10-3, to finish out the day.

Freshman Meagan Hendrix and sophomore Karyn Wright combined for the Vikings first shutout of the season against the Lobos to start the day.

Crysta Conn led the way for the Vikings at the plate going 4-for-6 with three runs batted in and a run scored off her first home run of the season. Conn is now hitting ..462 (6-for-13) on the season with three RBIs.

Game 1 – Portland State 10, New Mexico 0 (5)

Hendrix moved to 2-0 for her career with her first career shutout. She threw four scoreless innings allowing just four hits while walking one and striking out one. Wright threw the final inning of the came to combine for the shutout.

Shae Nelson and Becca Bliss led off the game with back-to-back walks. After a Viking ground out, junior right fielder Aubrey Nitschelm drove in both runners on a single to center field to put the Vikings up 2-0.

The Lobos (1-4) got a pair of singles in the top of the second but could not get past second base as Hendrix induced a fly ball to center and a strikeout for the final two outs.

The Vikings (2-1) added an unearned run in the second to go up 3-0. After Nelson reached on a hit by pitch and Brittany Hendrickson walked with one out in the bottom of the third, Nitschelm again drove in two, this time with a double to left center. Later in the inning, Kayla Norrie was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing in Nitschelm from third to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead.

Portland State added four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 10-0 lead. Melissa Masters drove in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Conn drove in a pair with a single to right center before Norrie drove in the final run of the game for the Vikings with an infield single to third base.

After a lead off walk, Wright retired the next three batters to close out the game in the fifth. She threw the one inning and did not allow a hit.

Game 2 – Utah 10, Portland State 3

The Vikings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first against Utah. The Utes countered with a run in the bottom off Wright who got the start in the circle for the Vikings.

Portland State increased its lead to 3-1 with another run in the top of the second thanks to a Conn leadoff home run to right center. It was Conn's first of the year and the first by a Viking.

It would be all Utah after, as it scored five runs in the bottom of the third, four coming off a grand slam, along with two more in the four and fifth innings.

Wright lasted three innings allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits while walking two. She did not record a strikeout. Hendrix threw the final three innings allowing three earned runs.

The Vikings will conclude play at the Kajikawa Classic Sunday, Feb. 9 against No. 24 California. The game is slated for an 11:30 a.m. PST first pitch.