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

PORTLAND – Solid pitching and timely hitting was the recipe for the Portland State softball team Wednesday as the Vikings swept the Seattle Redhawks in a non-conference doubleheader at Erv Lind Stadium. Portland State completed the sweep with a pair of one-run games taking the first game 1-0. The Vikings then hit a walk-off with the bases loaded in game two to win 4-3.
 
The Vikings' pitching staff allowed just one earned run on the day led by Karyn Wright's complete game shutout in game one. Melissa Masters followed that performance allowing three runs, one earned, over six innings in game two. Meagan Hendrix closed out game two for the Vikings with a clutch scoreless inning.
 
Portland State (6-26 overall) hit .265 on the day but came up with the clutch hit when it needed it. Alicia Fine went 3-for-6 on the day with two runs scored. Brittany Hendrickson also went 3-for-6 on the day with a run batted in. The Vikings drove in four runs, all by different players.
 
Fine extended her hitting streak to six games after hitting safely in both games Wednesday. Fine is hitting .550 (11-for-20) with four runs scored and two runs batted in over the streak. It is her second six-game hitting streak of the season and she has now hit safely in 16 of the last 19 games.
 
Seattle University (13-27) had a runner on third with one out in the top of the first in game one but Wright induced a popup to second before striking out the next batter to get out of the jam. After the first inning, Wright settled down an allowed just four base runners the rest of the game. She set down eight straight batters at one point.
 
Fine led off the bottom of the third by getting hit by a pitch. She then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Becca Bliss. Two batters later, Crysta Conn singled down the left field line to score Fine from second. Conn's hit would be the difference in the game as the Vikings took game one, 1-0.
 
Wright threw her second complete game shutout of the season allowing just three hits over seven innings. She improved her record to 2-15 with the win.
 
Seattle scored a run in the top of the first off Masters, Portland State's game two starter. The Vikings tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first. Becca Bliss walked with one out and then stole second before being driven in by Hendrickson to tie the game.
 
The Redhawks plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Seattle loaded the bases with no outs in the second. Masters got a comebacker to the mound and went home but threw just off the glove of Kayla Norrie allowing two runners to score. Masters got out of the inning with no more damage but Seattle had already taken the two-run lead.
 
The Vikings tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Fine singled to deep short with one out in the inning. Bliss then doubled in Fine all the way from first before moving to third when the Redhawks went home with the throw. Bliss then came in to tie the game on a wild pitch that got away from the catcher.
 
The Vikings had a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth with two outs but were unable to push across the go-ahead run.
 
Masters gave up a single and a walk to start the seventh inning before being lifted for Hendrix. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with one out. The next batter grounded out to Hendrickson for the second out.
 
Hendrix intentionally walked Seattle's next hitter, Bubba Marrow, who came into the day hitting .333 with team highs in home runs with eight and RBIs with 31. The walk loaded the bases with two outs. Hendrix then went to a full count on the next batter before inducing a popup to second to get out of the inning with no damage done.
 
Masters ended up throwing six-plus innings allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits while walking four and striking out two. She picked up a no decision in the game.
 
Fine doubled past a diving right fielder to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Vikings. She then moved to third on a passed ball. Bliss waked putting runners at the corners with Hendrickson coming to the plate.
 
Just like the Vikings intentionally walked Morrow in the top of the inning, the Redhawks intentionally walked Hendrickson to load the bases, which brought Aubrey Nitschelm to the plate. After, Fine was lifted for pinch runner Lexi Goranson, Nitschelm drove the second pitch she saw to left center to drive in Goranson for the game-winner.
 
It was Nitschelm's only hit on the day but it could not have come at a better time. The hit gave the Vikings the doubleheader sweep. It was the first time the Vikings had won back-to-back games since their second and third games of the season.
 
Hendrix picked up the win in game two throwing just one inning as she was the pitcher of record when the Vikings won it in the bottom of the inning. Hendrix moved to 3-5 on the season.
 
The Vikings have a quick turnaround as they fly out Thursday for a three-game Big Sky Conference set at Northern Colorado starting with a Friday doubleheader.