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

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Portland State softball team lost its first two games at the Gaucho Classic Friday afternoon in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Vikings opened the classic with an 8-0 loss to Utah State in six innings. They scored four runs late but could not come all the way back and fell to Dartmouth 11-5 in game two. 

Senior center fielder Becca Bliss led the team at the plate going 3-for-7 (.429) with a pair of doubles and two RBIs between the two games. Junior shortstop Alicia Fine extended her hitting streak to six games after hitting safely in both games. She also went 3-for-7 at the plate. Her hitting streak is tied for the longest by a Viking this season.

The Vikings had a rough start to the day, falling to Utah State 8-0. The Vikings had an opportunity to score with the bases loaded in the top of the first but were unable to come up with the big two-out hit to drive in a run.

Portland State had something going in the top of the third after Bliss doubled to right center with one out. After the next batter struck out, Crysta Conn singled to left. Bliss tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning and the Vikings' scoring opportunity.

That would be the last scoring chance the Vikings would get against Utah State as they moved only one player into scoring position over the next three innings.

Utah State scored all eight runs over the final three innings of the game. The Aggies picked up two runs in the bottom of the fourth off Portland State starting pitcher Karyn Wright to go up 2-0.

The Aggies increased their lead with a grand slam off Wright in the bottom of the fifth. They then got a walk-off two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to win, 8-0, via the run rule.

Wright fell to 1-9 on the season with the loss. She allowed eight earned runs off 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings. She walked none and struck out seven, one shy of her career-high of eight set earlier this year.

Dartmouth got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning of game two. The Big Green added two more runs in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead over the Vikings and starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix.

Candice Orozco led off the bottom of the third for the Vikings with an opposite field single to right. She moved to second on a groundout and then to third on a wild pitch before Bliss singled her home on a base hit to left to bring the score to 3-1.

Hendrix pitched into the top of the fourth but did not record an out. The first batter of the inning singled. The next batter tripled to right center to score the run and force the Vikings to make a move. Raya Johnson came in after the call to the bullpen and got a groundout for the first out of the inning. The runner from third scored on the play and Dartmouth led 5-1.

The Big Green scored two more in the sixth and four in the seventh to take an 11-1 lead. The Vikings scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, with the aid of an error and a Brittany Hendrickson two-RBI double, but they could not complete the comeback falling 11-5.

Hendrix fell to 2-3 on the season with the loss. She allowed five earned on seven hits over three innings. The Vikings relief pitcher allowed six earned over four innings behind her.

The Vikings will look to bounce back against the Big Green as they take on Dartmouth once more at the Gaucho Classic Saturday afternoon. They will then face host team UC Santa Barbara in the second game of their doubleheader. Game times are slated for 1:30 and 3:30 PM PDT respectively.

NOTES: Alicia Fine extended her hitting streak to six games after hitting safely in both games Friday … Portland State is now 1-9 in its last 10 and has lost eight straight.