MORAGA, Calif. – The Vikings dropped their only game of the day, 5-1, to Towson Saturday afternoon at the Saint Mary's Classic II hosted by Saint Mary's (CA) in Moraga, Calif. Portland State's second game of the day was cancelled after persistent rains moved in during the afternoon.
 
Towson threated to score in each of the first three innings after the lead off batter reached safely. With two runners in scoring position in the top of the first, Portland State starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix got out of the jam with a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning.
 
The leadoff batter reached and moved all the way to third in the top of the second before a fly out to left ended the threat. Hendrix got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third with another fly out. The Tigers stranded six runners on base over the first three innings, five in scoring position.
 
Towson plated the game's first run with a lead off solo home run to left field off Hendrix to start the fourth inning. A two-out two-run home run later in the inning scored two more runs for the Tigers, putting them up 3-0, and forced Hendrix out of the game.
 
Kristen Crawford came on in relief of Hendrix and got out of the inning with out allowing another run but the damage was done and Towson led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
 
Portland State scattered three base runners over the first three innings of the game. Alex Flores reached on an error in the bottom of the third before being replaced by pinch runner SheaLee Lindsey.
 
Hendrix singled up the middle moving Lindsey to second. Lindsey moved to third on a stolen base and Hendrix moved to second on a ground out, giving the Vikings two runners in scoring position with one out. The next two batters made good contact but hit a pair of lineouts to end the Vikings' scoring opportunity.
 
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the fourth, The Vikings had another opportunity to score with a runner in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Unfortunately, the Vikings again could not come up with a key hit to drive in a run.
 
Towson drove in two more runs with a two-run single in the top of the fifth inning to go up 5-0.  
 
Down by five heading to the bottom of the seventh, Ashley Smith doubled to right field to lead off the inning. After the next batter recorded an out, Flores singled up the middle driving in Smith for the Vikings' lone run of the game. After a fielder's choice recorded the second out, followed by a strikeout to end the game.
 
The Vikings scattered six hits throughout the game led by Hendrix's 2-for-3 day at the plate. The Vikings went just 1-for-6 in RBI opportunities and 1-for-9 with two outs.
 
Towson improved to 16-4 with the win, while Portland State fell to 5-14 with the loss.
 
Portland State is slated for two more games Sunday, weather permitting. The game times have been moved up to try and beat the weather. The Vikings will take on Manhattan at 9 a.m. followed by Towson again at 11 a.m.