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

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Portland State softball team outscored North Dakota 22-5 over the course of a doubleheader sweep in Grand Forks, N. D. Friday afternoon. The Vikings took the first game by a score of 14-5 before cruising to an 8-0 win in game two. Portland State secured the series win over North Dakota with the sweep.
 
The Vikings tallied 27 hits over the course of the two games including seven doubles and three home runs. PSU slugged .629 on the day with a .469 on base percentage.
 
Senior IF Brittany Hendrickson provided the power for the Vikings with five runs batted in and two home runs on the day. Hendrickson's two home runs moved her into a tie for third all-time at Portland State with 19 career home runs. She went 5-for-9 (.556) on the day and added three runs scored.
 
Junior DP Brianna Celaya went 5-for-7 (.714) with two runs scored, two doubles, and two RBIs on the day. She tallied her first career four-hit game going 4-for-4 in game two.
 
North Dakota led 3-0 heading to the top of the fourth inning in game one. Portland State took the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth on four doubles and a walk to go up 4-3.
 
After plating two runs in the bottom of the fourth, UND led 5-4 through five complete innings. Hendrickson tied the game at 5-5 with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the sixth.
 
After adding another run, Shae Nelson doubled to left center with the bases loaded to plate three more. An RBI single from Ashley Smith and a two-run single down the left field line by Aubrey Nitschelm put the Vikings up 12-5 after scoring eight runs in the top of the sixth.
 
Another run scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh before Hendrickson drove in one more with a bases loaded groundout to put the Vikings up 14-5.
 
Meagan Hendrix started the game in the circle for the Vikings and threw a complete game allowing five earned runs on seven hits. She also walked four and struck out four en route to her fifth win of the season.
 
Five players had multiple hits in game one while four drove in multiple runs and five scored multiple runs.
 
Game two remained scoreless through the first three innings before Celaya doubled with one out. She moved to third on a single and then scored on a sacrifice fly to plate the game's first run and put the Vikings up 1-0.
 
Hendrickson led off the top of the sixth with another solo home run to put the Vikings up 2-0. Nitschelm made it 3-0 when she reached on an error and came around to score.
 
Smith hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the seventh to start a five-run inning for the Vikings to put them up 8-0.
 
Junior Kristen Crawford threw the complete game shutout for the Vikings and allowed just two hits and two walks in the game. She also struck out four. Crawford allowed just on batter to reach second base in her second shutout of the season.
 
Portland State improved to 12-30 overall and 5-9 in Big Sky Conference play. North Dakota fell to 10-34 and 0-14.
 
The series finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon. The Vikings are looking for their first conference series sweep under second-year Head Coach Barb Sherwood.