TEMPE­, Ariz. – The Vikings dropped their final two games of the Kajikawa Classic Sunday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz. The Vikings fell to San Diego by a score of 13-10 before falling to No. 22 Arizona State, 7-1.
 
Senior OF Brianna Celaya continued her hot hitting to start the season, going 6-for-8 on the day at the plate, including the Vikings first home run of the season. She has hit safely in four of the Vikings' five games this season, including three straight.  
 
Through five games, Celaya leads the Vikings with a .571 batting average, going 8-for-14 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
 
"Offensively, we did a great job today," third-year Head Coach Barb Sherwood said following the Arizona State game. "We struggled a bit on defense and in the circle. However, I was very pleased with Meagan Hendrix coming on in relief in both games. I saw a lot of good things this weekend and we will be working very hard this next week to improve the things that need more work."
 
GAME 1 – San Diego 13, Portland State 10
 
The Vikings scored a season-high 10 runs on 13 hits but a pair of costly errors lead to an early big inning for San Diego.
 
Portland State had five players record multiple hits in the game, led by Celaya's 3-for-5 game. She drove in a run and scored twice against the Toreros.  
 
Portland State took its first lead of the year with a run in the top of the first inning. Celaya led off the game with a single up the middle. She moved to second when Shae Nelson was hit by a pitch. After a pair of fielder's choices cut down the lead runner at third, Kortney Craker came up with a two-out single to right field to give the Vikings the early 1-0 lead.
 
The lead did not last however as the Toreros plated nine run on six hits and two PSU errors in the bottom of the inning. Senior RHP Kristen Crawford started the game in the circle for the Vikings. After a walk and a single, San Diego tied the game with a double down the left field line.
 
Crawford struck out the next batter looking, but that is when the wheels started to fall off in the inning. The next batter reached on a throwing error by Crawford, which allowed a run to score. A bunt single to first loaded the bases with one out.
 
Two runs scored on another throwing error by the Vikings on the next ball put in play. An RBI single and a three-run home run put San Diego up 8-1, and forced Crawford from the game. Karyn Wright came on in relief and induced a groundout for the second out of the inning. She then gave up a solo home run before getting a strike out to end the inning, but the damage was done and San Diego was up 9-1 after one complete inning.
 
The Vikings could easily have thrown in the towel but they did not. Nelson and Ashley Smith each picked up two-out RBIs in the top of the second to cut into the lead.
 
San Diego answered with two runs in the bottom of the second and one in the bottom of the third to increase its lead to 12-3.
 
The Vikings loaded the bases in the top of the fourth with one out. Smith drove in a run after being hit by a pitch. Katherine Kramer drove in a run with an RBI groundout to second for the second out of the inning. Craker then singled up the middle, driving in two, and the Vikings trailed 12-7.
 
After holding the Toreros scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings' offense picked up where it left off in the fourth. The Vikings picked up three-straight RBIs to pull within two runs.
 
Unfortunately for the Vikings, San Diego added a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 13-10 and the Vikings were unable to plate any more runs and suffered the loss.
 
GAME 2 – Arizona State 7, Portland State 1
 
The Vikings had an early opportunity to get on the board against the Sun Devils. Portland State had two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the first but back-to-back strikeouts ended the opportunity.
 
Freshman RHP Alyssa Burk, making her first career start for the Vikings, got through the first inning unscathed. In the bottom of the second, Burk gave up a leadoff home run to left for the game's first run. Arizona State had the bases loaded with one out in the inning, looking to add to its advantage, but Burk got the next two batters to get out of the jam.
 
Celaya led off the top of the third with an opposite field solo home run to right. The next two batters reached base before three-straight outs ended the Vikings' scoring opportunity.
 
Arizona State plated two more runs in the bottom of the third on a two-RBI double to left center.
 
Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix came on in relief of Burk to start the fourth inning. After throwing a scoreless fourth, ASU score two in the fifth and two in the sixth to go up 7-1.
 
Celaya led off the top of the seventh and reached base for the fourth time in the game after being hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice recorded the first out of the inning before Arizona State turned a game-ending double-play.
 
Arizona State improved to 5-0 on the season, while Portland State fell to 0-5.
 
Portland State hits the road again next week for five games at the DeMarini Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.