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

RENO, Nev. – The Portland State softball team split a pair of games Friday at the Wolf Pack Classic hosted by the University of Nevada-Reno. The Vikings opened up the classic with a 6-2 win over St. Mary's before falling to Nevada 8-0 in six innings.
 
Game 1 – Portland State 6, St. Mary's 2
 
The Vikings scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning with three-straight two-out hits. Brittany Hendrickson singled down the left field line before being moved to second on an infield single to second by Aubrey Nitschelm. Lexi Goranson then singled to drive in Hendrickson to put the Vikings up 1-0.
 
Portland State had opportunities to increase its lead over the next several innings but could not get the big hit stranding five runners in scoring position over the first four innings.
 
Nitschelm got the big hit with a two-out solo home run to left center field to put the Vikings up 2-0. It was her third of the season, seventh of her career.
 
Portland State starting pitcher Karyn Wright held the Gaels scoreless over the first four innings of the game. St. Mary's got on the scoreboard with a solo home run off Wright with one out in the fifth.
 
The next two batters moved into scoring position before Wright was lifted for Kristen Crawford. Crawford came in and induced a popup and a fly out to get out of the inning.
 
The Vikings blew the game open in the top of the seventh with four runs. Shae Nelson led off the inning with a bunt single and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Ashley Smith singled through the right side to put runners on the corners with no outs.
 
Rayleen Pallan then drove in Nelson from third with a single to left field. Hendrickson walked to load the bases before Nitschelm walked to drive in Smith. Goranson then flew out to right field for the first out of the inning.
 
Pallan attempted to score on the fly ball but was thrown out at the plate but the other two runners were able to move into scoring position. Melissa Masters then singled in Mackenzie Bourbanis, who pinch ran for Hendrickson, and Nitschelm to put the Vikings up 6-1.
 
Crawford gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to make the game 6-2 but she did not surrender any more runs to secure the win for the Vikings.
 
Portland State tallied 11 hits in the game and hit .500 (7-for-14) with two outs and .444 (4-for-9) with runners in scoring position. Nitschelm went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a double, a walk, and a home run in the game.
 
Game 2 – Nevada 8, Portland State 0 – Six Innings
 
The second game of the day against Nevada remained scoreless over the first two innings before the Wolf Pack plated four runs with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning off Portland State starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix.
 
Nevada added another run in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run off Hendrix who was lifted for Raya Johnson. Johnson got out of the inning without any more damage but Nevada led 5-0.
 
The Wolf Pack added three more runs, two unearned, over the next two innings the win by a score of 8-0 in six innings.
 
The Vikings offense was held stagnant through the entire game and were limited to just four hits. Only one Viking reached second base in the game.
 
Portland State will face off again with both St. Mary's and Nevada Saturday in Reno. The Vikings and Gaels will play at 10:30 a.m. Portland State and Nevada will play at 3:30 p.m.