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HILLSBORO, Ore. - Alex Flores doubled over the left fielder's head scoring two runs as the Vikings walked-off, 4-3, Friday afternoon over Northern Colorado.
 
"We've been in a lot of close games this year," second-year Head Coach Barb Sherwood said following the comeback win. "Our team doesn't get nervous or let down. They keep pecking away and coming at you."
 
Brittany Hendrickson walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh before being pinch ran for by Mackenzie Bourbanis. Aubrey Nitschelm then singled to the second baseman, which moved Bourbanis to second to put the game-winning run on first base with one out.
 
After taking a called strike, Flores drilled a line drive double over the head of the Northern Colorado left fielder. Bourbanis easily scored from second to tie the game.
 
Nitschelm, who was off on the crack of the bat, had the whole play in front of her as she rounded third and slid safely into home for the game-winning run. It was the first time this season that the Vikings have comeback to win after trailing after the sixth inning.
 
Northern Colorado led off the game with back-to-back home runs off Portland State starting pitcher Karyn Wright. The Bears eventually went up 3-0 in the top of the second inning on a single to center field.
 
The Bears threatened to add to their lead in the top of the third with runners on the corners and two outs when the Vikings brought Meagan Hendrix in to pitch. Hendrix struck out the first batter she faced to get out of the jam.
 
Portland State picked up a run in the bottom of the third inning after Ashley Smith walked and came around to score. The Vikings had a chance with a runner on third in the fourth but were unable to plate another run.
 
Hendrix allowed just two base runners over the next three innings, as the scored remained 3-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
"Meagan was absolutely amazing," Sherwood added. "That's a good hitting team and for her to come in and shut them down the way she did was awesome. It's exactly what we needed at that time."
 
Melissa Masters came up with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and hit a low line drive home run to left center to bring the score to 3-2 through six innings. It was her first of the season.
 
Northern Colorado got two runners on in the top of the seventh but Hendrix held them scoreless to keep the Vikings within a run.
 
After the Vikings got two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, Flores doubled in the game-tying and game-winning runs for the 4-3 walk-off win.
 
Hendrix picked up the win improving to 3-8 on the season after allowing just two hits over 4 1/3 innings. She walked two and struck out three.
 
Nitshcelm went 3-for-4 and scored the game-winning run while Hendrickson went 2-for-3. Masters went 2-for-3 with a solo home run.
 
Portland State improved to 9-26 overall and 2-5 in Big Sky Conference play, while Northern Colorado fell to 8-18-1 and 3-4.
 
The series will conclude with a doubleheader Saturday, April 4 with the first game slated for an 11 a.m. PT first pitch.
 
"Winning the first game of the series is a huge boost," Sherwood said. "Anytime you can do that you know that you're starting off on the right foot. We played well throughout, and even if we had taken the loss, I would have been proud of how our team played."