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HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Portland State softball team hung in with No. 19 Washington through most of the game but the Huskies pulled away late to win 9-0 in six innings Wednesday night at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro, Ore.
 
Washington threatened to blow the game wide open in the top of the first inning when the game's leadoff hitter tripled off Portland State starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix. Hendrix walked the next batter before getting the first out with a strikeout.
 
The Huskies pulled off the double-steal to score the game's first run. Two more walks loaded the bases with one out. Hendrix got out of the jam after she induced a popup on the infield for an infield fly before getting the next batter to strike out swinging.
 
Hendrix got through the second inning unscathed but allowed three runs in the top of the third inning on a pair of home runs before being lifted for relief pitcher Karyn Wright. Wright induced a fly out to left to get out of the inning but Washington led 4-0.
 
Hendrix pitched well throughout the game despite allowing four runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings. She walked three but struck out four batters.
 
Wright also pitched well through the next two innings giving up a pair of hits while picking up a strike out.
 
The Huskies finally pulled away with five runs in the top of the sixth inning off the Vikings' third pitcher of the day, Kristen Crawford. UW plated five earned runs on six hits against Crawford to go up 9-0.
 
The Vikings had a chance to extend the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth but a pair of fly outs on ended the Vikings' night.
 
Hendrix was saddled with the tough loss while Washington's Hailey Bator picked up the win. The Huskies improved to 30-7 overall while the Vikings fell to 7-22.
 
Portland State will hit the road for a three-game set against Big Sky Conference foe Weber State this weekend starting Friday at 12 p.m. PT with a doubleheader in Ogden, Utah. The series finale will be Saturday.