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

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Portland State softball team split its second day at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Vikings defeated UTEP 7-5 before falling to San Jose State 8-5.
 
The two big hits of the day came from sophomore catcher Alex Flores who hit her first and second career home runs. The first came as a three-run shot against UTEP while the second was a two-run shot against San Jose State. Flores drove in a team-high five runs on the day. She came into the day with just one RBI in nine career games.
 
Lexi Goranson and Brittany Hendrickson each went 3-for-6 with three runs scored on the day. Hendrickson added a pair of RBIs to her stat line.
 
The Portland State pitching staff gave up seven earned runs over 13.0 innings for a 3.77 ERA on the day. Meagan Hendrix threw 3 1/3 innings, all in relief, and allowed just three hits and no runs. She also picked up her first career save.
 
The Vikings continued to be disciplined at the plate working six walks over the two games. Four of their six runs would eventually score. When they got on base they put pressure on the defense going 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Goranson went 3-for-3 in stolen bases on the day.
 
Game 1 – Portland State 7, UTEP 5
 
UTEP struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a run of Portland State starting pitcher Kristen Crawford. The Miners rattled off three straight singles to start the game before Crawford settled down and got out of the inning.
 
Rayleen Pallan reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. She moved to third on Goranson's infield single to put runners on the corners with one out.
 
Hendrickson singled through the left side to drive in Pallan from third. Flores reached on an error by the pitcher, which allowed Goranson to score to give the Vikings the lead. After a groundout, Lauren Bliss doubled down the left field line to drive in Hendrickson and Flores to put the Vikings up 4-1.
 
A fielder's choice and a triple off Crawford in the bottom of the third made the score 4-2.
 
Goranson led off the top of the fifth with a walk and then stole second. She moved to third on an infield single from Hendrickson. Flores then took a 1-0 pitch and drove it deep over the fence in left center for a three-run home run to put the Vikings up 7-2. It was Flores' first career home run and the second by a Viking this season.
 
The Miners scored three unearned runs off Crawford in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two runners on and two outs, Hendrix came on in relief of Crawford and induced a groundout to Shae Nelson at shortstop to get out of the jam.
 
Hendrix allowed just two base runners over the final two innings to earned her first career save.
 
Hendrickson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a run driven in to lead the Vikings. Goranson added a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored.
 
Game 2 – San Jose State 8, Portland State 5
 
Portland State got on the board with three runs in the top of the first inning against San Jose State. Goranson singled to center field and then stole second before a Hendrickson walk. Both runners moved up a base on a double-steal. The SJSU catcher tried to throw out Goranson at third but the ball got away, which allowed her to score from third for the game's first run.
 
Flores came up and drove a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run. Her second home run of the season put the Vikings up 3-0 after one-half inning.
 
San Jose State came back with a two-run shot of its own to cut the lead to 3-2 through one complete.
 
Nelson walked to leadoff the top of the second and would eventually score on a Hendrickson sacrifice fly to left field to go up 4-2.
 
The Spartans tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second before a solo home run in the third inning gave them the 5-4 lead. They added three more unearned runs in the fourth to go up 8-4.
 
Flores walked to leadoff the top of the fifth before being lifted for pinch runner Mackenzie Bourbanis. Bourbanis came around to score on a Melissa Masters infield single but that would be the final run of the game for the Vikings as they went 1-2-3 in each of the final two frames.
 
Raya Johnson picked up the loss after giving up five earned runs over three innings pitched. She walked three and struck out one.
 
The Vikings conclude action at the Kajikawa Classic Sunday morning when they take on the Fordham Rams at 9:15 a.m. MT. The Rams are 1-3 after falling to Nevada, Fresno State, and California. Its lone loss was a 4-3 win over Pacific.