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CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Vikings had the Thunderbirds down to their final out but a two-RBI single with the bases loaded gave the T-Birds the 7-6 win and the series sweep Saturday afternoon in Cedar City, Utah.
 
Southern Utah (14-19 overall, 6-2 Big Sky Conference) took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Neither team scored over the next three innings as the game moved into the top of the fifth.
 
Portland State (4-26, 1-7) tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Pinch hitter Brianna Celaya singled to left and then moved all the way around to third on the play thanks to a SUU error. Alicia Fine then singled in Celaya to tie the game. Celaya's pinch hit was the first for a Viking this season.
 
The game did not stay tied long as the Thunderbirds scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Aubrey Nitschelm walked with one out in the top of the sixth. She was then doubled in by Crysta Conn. Melissa Masters then singled to drive in Conn to give the Vikings their first lead of the series at 3-2.
 
Southern Utah again matched the Vikings scoring with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to again retake the lead at 4-3.
 
Brittany Hendrickson walked with two outs in the top of the seventh. Nitschelm singled before Conn hit a three-run home run to left center field to give the Vikings a 6-4 lead. The home run was Conn's fifth of the season, second of the weekend. It was also the 13th home run of Conn's career moving her into a tie for eighth all time.
 
The Thunderbirds countered with a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to one run at 6-5. The next two batter singled before the Vikings got the second out. A hit by pitch loaded the bases before a two-out two-RBI single gave the Thunderbirds their third walk-off win of the series.
 
Meagan Hendrix threw 6 2/3 innings for the Vikings while allowing seven earned runs on 13 hits. She walked two and struck out a career high four batters in the losing effort and fell to 2-5.
 
Conn went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and four runs batted in for the Vikings. Aubrey Nitschelm went 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Alicia Fine went 4-for-4 with an RBI. Fine is 5-for-7 (.714) since being moved to the leadoff spot in game two.
 
The Vikings are home this upcoming Wednesday, April 9 when they host a non-conference doubleheader with Seattle University. The first game is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
 
NOTES: Crysta Conn hit her fifth home run of the season, 13th of her career … Alicia Fine extended her hitting streak to four games while Aubrey Nitschelm extended hers to five games … Fine is hitting .714 (5-for-7) since being moved to the leadoff spot.