Portland State Vikings (11-22 overall, 5-4 Big Sky) at
Montana Grizzlies (15-23 overall, 4-5 Big Sky)
April 16-17, 2016 • Missoula, MT • Grizzly Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

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This Week
Portland State will play softball at the University of Montana for the first time in program history this weekend as the Vikings and Grizzlies square off for a three-game Big Sky Conference series. The teams will play two games on Saturday, April 16 starting at 12 p.m. PT followed by the series finale on Sunday, April 17.  

Online
Live stats will be available for all three games against Montana. Links are available on the softball schedule page at GoViks.com. 

Live Video
A live video stream will be available for all three games against Montana. Links are available on the softball schedule page at GoViks.com.

Social Media
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Last Time Out
Portland State dropped a midweek non-conference game at Oregon State, 9-1 in five innings, Tuesday afternoon. After scoring one in the top of the first, Portland State allowed nine runs, three earned, over the first three innings to loose via the run rule. The loss comes after a 2-1 Big Sky Conference series victory over North Dakota, at home, last weekend. 

Celaya's Big Weekend
Senior OF Brianna Celaya hit .700 against North Dakota, going 7-for-10 on the week with five runs scored, three doubles, a home run, and six runs batted in. She had an OPS of 2.000. She recorded three multi-hit games and two multi-RBI against the Fighting Hawks. She scored at least one run and doubled in each game. 

Singles
• Senior OF Brianna Celaya is riding a four-game Big Sky Conference hitting streak into play this weekend. She has reached base safely eight of her last nine games overall. 
• Senior RHP Karyn Wright threw her second complete-game shutout of the season in game one against North Dakota. 
• Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix backed up Wright's complete-game shutout with the first of her career in game two against North Dakota. 
• It was the first time this season that PSU pitchers threw back-to-back complete-game shutouts.
• It was the first time PSU had two-straight complete-game shutouts since 2012. 
• Lindsey is hitting a team-high .383 on the season with five multi-hit games. She has hit safely in eight out of the last nine games. 
• Lindsey is hitting .480 during league play, eighth best in the Big Sky. Celaya is ninth with a .462 mark.
• Portland State is second in the Big Sky with a 3.32 ERA during league play. 
• Portland State is hitting .328 during Big Sky play.

Up Next
After the Vikings' trip to Missoula, they head back out on the road for another Big Sky series at Northern Colorado. The Bears are winless in league play entering this weekend.  

Opponent Preview
Montana Grizzlies 
• Record: Montana is 15-23 overall this season and 4-5 in Big Sky play. The Grizzlies are 5-5 at home, 5-9 on the road, and 5-9 at a neutral site. 
• Top Hitters: Bethany Olea has started all 38 games this season and leads the team with a .416 batting average. She has scored 22 runs, hit 10 doubles and one triple, and has driven in 12 on the season. Lexie Brenneis is hitting .397 with a team-best 30 RBIs, while Sydney Stites is hitting .391 with a team-high nine home runs.  
• Top Pitchers: Sara Stephenson leads the team with an 8-5 record on the year. She has allowed 69 runs, 63 earned, over a team-high 90 innings for a 4.90 ERA. She has walked 38, struck out 54, and given up a team-high 17 home runs. Opponents are hitting .310 off her.  
• Team Notes: Montana went 9-16 before opening Big Sky play with a sweep of Northern Colorado. They then lost seven of their next eight games, including two games to Sacramento State, two at Utah State, and three at Idaho State. The Grizzlies are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Carroll College on Tuesday. The Grizzlies are hitting .318 as a team, while opponents are hitting .330. They have been out-scored 227-to-191 on the season and have committed 42 errors leading to 37 unearned runs. The UM pitching staff has a combined 5.54 ERA in 240 innings this season. They have allowed 40 home runs as a staff. 
• All-Time Series: Portland State leads the all-time series 2-1. The Vikings and Grizzlies met for the first time last season, with Portland State taking the series. Portland State took the first game 11-9 in nine innings before falling 3-2 in game two. Portland State then took the series with a 9-1 win in six innings in the rubber-match. 
• Last Season: Portland State hit .404 against Montana last season, out-scoring the Grizzlies 22-13 in the series. Ashley Smith hit .538 with five runs scored, a home run, and two runs driven in. Karyn Wright went 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA after allowing just one run over 7 1/3 innings. She walked two and struck out nine. 

Season Notes
I Want Candy
Senior OF Candice Orozco has put together a tremendous senior campaign. During Big Sky play, Orozco is hitting .548 with six runs scored. She has doubled three teams, hit a home run, and driven in a team-high 12 batters. She is hitting .500 during league play with runners in scoring position and is 4-for-4 with runners on third and less than two outs. Six of her 12 RBIs during conference play have come with two outs.  

Back-to-Back Complete Game Shutouts
Portland State threw back-to-back complete game shutouts against North Dakota (4/8). The last time the Vikings recorded the feat was against Weber State in 2012. 

Back-to-Back Series Wins
Portland State picked up its second-straight Big Sky Conference series win taking two of three from North Dakota. The Vikings out-scored 16-9 over the three games, including back-to-back complete-game shutouts to take the series.  

Big Sky Series Win
Portland State picked up its first Big Sky series win taking 2-of-3 at Southern Utah April 1-2. The Vikings dropped the first game of the series before winning two straight to take the series. Portland State hit .375 as a team against SUU. Eight players tallied three-or-more hits in the series. 

Player/Pitcher of the Week
• Sophomore IF Kortney Craker and freshman RHP Alyssa Burk were named the Big Sky's Player and Pitcher of the Week respectively following the Hawaii Invitational. 
• Craker hit .615 (8-for-13) with five runs scored, a double, three home runs, and six RBIs. She slugged 1.385 with an on base percentage of .688. She tallied two game-winning home runs on the week including a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh against Utah Valley (2/26). 
• Burk went 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA with two complete games including a complete-game shutout of Hawaii. She allowed just three earned runs off five hits over 14 innings, while walking six and striking out 17. She struck out a career-high 10 batters in the shutout of Hawaii. 
• It was the third time, first since 2013, that the Vikings have swept the Big Sky's weekly honors. 

Walk-Off Winner
Sophomore IF Kortney Craker hit a walk-off solo home run against Utah Valley (2/26) to give the Vikings their first win of the season. It was the first walk-off home run (not via the eight-run rule) since Becca Bliss walked-off against Sacramento State on April 27, 2013. 

Double-Digit K's
Freshman RHP Alyssa Burk recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts en route to her first career win, and first career complete-game shutout, against Hawaii (2/27). The last Viking to record 10+ strikeouts in a game was Anna Bertrand (11) against Sacramento State on April 26, 2013.

Back-to-Back Complete Game Wins
• Freshman RHP Alyssa Burk recorded the first back-to-back complete game wins of her career with wins over Hawaii (2/27) and Utah Valley (2/28). It was the first time a Viking recorded back-to-back complete game wins since Anna Bertrand recorded six straight compete-game wins in 2013. 
• Senior Karyn Wright posted the first back-to-back complete game wins of her career with wins over Seattle (3/22) and Weber State (3/25). 

2016 Weekly Recaps
Week 8 - Oregon (April 5) & North Dakota (April 8-9)
• Portland State opened the week with a pair of losses at No. 6 Oregon. The Ducks took the first game, 7-1, before finishing the doubleheader sweep with an 11-3 win in five innings. 
• Junior OF SheaLee Lindsey extended her hitting streak to six games, hitting safely in each game against the Ducks. 
• Portland State took its three-game series from North Dakota, taking two of three. The Vikings out-scored 16-9 over the three games, including back-to-back complete-game shutouts to take the series.
• Senior OF Brianna Celaya went 7-for-10 (.700) with five runs scored, three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs against UND. 

Week 7 - Southern Utah (April 1-2)
• Portland State picked up its first Big Sky series win of the season, taking 2-of-3 from Southern Utah in Cedar City. The Vikings dropped the first game before winning the next two. 
• Portland State plated a season-high seven runs in the top of the sixth in the series finale. 
• Junior OF SheaLee Lindsey went 7-for-9, including seven-consecutive hits to start the series. 
• Sophomore IF Kortney Craker went 5-for-11 with four runs scored, three runs driven in, and her fourth home run of the season. 
• Seniors Candice Orozco and Ashley Smith each drove in four runs in the series. 
• Senior RHP Kristen Crawford went 1-0 and did not allow a run over six complete innings, all in relief. She allowed just two hits, walked two, and struck out three.  

Week 6 - Seattle (March 22) & Weber State (March 25-26)
• Portland State went 2-3 over the course of the week beginning with a doubleheader split with the Seattle Redhawks. Seattle took game one, 11-8, before the Vikings took game two, 2-1. 
• The Vikings then dropped their first Big Sky Conference series, 2-1, to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. 
• Senior OF Candice Orozco led the Vikings with a .615 batting average on the week, going 8-for-13 at the plate. She scored three times, doubled three times, hit a home run, and drove in five on the week. 
• Portland State players tallied eight multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games on the week. 
• Senior RHP Karyn Wright put together the best two pitching performances of her career with back-to-back complete-game wins. She allowed just two earned runs over 16 innings on the week for a 0.88 ERA. 

Week 5 - Saint Mary's Classic II (March 11-13)
• Portland State went 0-1 after having four games cancelled due to inclement weather. 
• Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix picked up the 5-1 loss, allowing thee earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. She walked three and struck out two. 
• Hendrix led the Vikings at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. 
• Junior C Alex Flores drove in the Vikings' lone run with a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. 

Week 4 - San Diego Classic I (March 4-5)
• Portland State went 1-2 over the weekend. The Vikings' pitchers threw three complete games and combined for a 2.21 ERA. 
• Freshman RHP Alyssa Burk opened the week with a 1-0 loss on an unearned run. She struck out four and did not allow a walk. 
• Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix allowed one run on five hits in the Vikings' win against San Diego. 
• Senior OF Candice Orozco went 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs on the weekend. 
• Portland State hit .228 on the weekend, while opponents hit .271. 

Week 3 - Bank of Hawaii Invitational (Feb. 26-28)
• Sophomore IF Kortney Craker was named the Big Sky's Player of the Week. 
• Freshman RHP Alyssa Burk was named the Big Sky's Pitcher of the Week.
• Craker was also named the Hawaii Invitational Most Valuable Player. 
• Senior OF Brianna Celaya and Burk were named to the All-Tournament Team. 
• Portland State went 4-1 at the Hawaii Invitational, its best weekend record since going 5-0 in 2006.
• Craker hit .615 (8-for-13) with five runs, a double, three home runs, and six RBIs.She slugged 1.385 with a .688 on base percentage. 
• Burk went 2-0 with two complete games, including her first career complete-game shutout. She allowed just three earned runs over 14 innings for a 1.50 ERA. She struck out 17 batters, including a career-high 10 batters against Hawaii (2/27). 
• Senior OF Candice Orozco hit a pinch hit go-ahead home run against Utah Valley (2/28). 

Week 2 - DeMarini Desert Classic (Feb. 19-21)
• Portland State went 0-5 at the DeMarini Desert Classic. 
• Portland State hit .252 with six extra-base hits. 
• Portland State committed nine errors, which led to 12 unearned runs over the five games. 
• Portland State opened the classic with a 16-12 loss against CSUN (2/19). 
• The Vikings scored just two runs over the next four games, being shut out three times. 
• Junior C Alex Flores went 7-for-14 (.500) with three runs scored and six RBIs. 
• Flores hit two home runs on the weekend, her first two of the year.
• Flores has hit safely in each of the last three games. 

Week 1 - Kajikawa Classic (Feb. 12-14)
• Portland State opened the season 0-5 at the Kajikawa Classic. 
• Portland State hit .311 with three doubles, a home run, and 16 RBIs.
• Senior OF Brianna Celaya hit .571 (8-for-14) with three runs scored, a double, home run, and two RBIs. She posted an OPS of 1.504 on the week.
• Senior IF Melissa Masters (.500), junior IF/OF Shae Nelson (.462), and senior IF Ashley Smith (.400) all hit over .400 on the weekend. 
• Portland State pitchers went 0-5 with a 9.54 ERA after allowing 52 runs, 37 earned, over 25 1/3 innings. 
• Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix went 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA over 14 2/3 innings pitched. She struckout 10 batters on the weekend. 
• Portland State committed 10 errors which led to 15 unearned runs on the weekend. 

2016 Season Highlights
• April 9 Brianna Celaya hit .700 (7-for-10) with five runs scored, three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs over the three-game series with North Dakota. 
• April 8 Karyn Wright and Meagan Hendrix combined for back-to-back complete-game shutouts to take the series from North Dakota. It was the first time the Vikings recorded back-to-back complete-game shutouts since the 2012 season. 
• April 2 Portland State scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning en route to their first run-rule win of the season (10-2 in six innings) to secure its first conference series win. 
• April 1 SheaLee Lindsey went 4-for-4 against Southern Utah, tied for most hits by a Viking this season. She started the Southern Utah series 7-for-7 at the plate.
• March 25 Karyn Wright led the Vikings to their first Big Sky Conference game of the season with a complete-game shutout of Weber State. 
• March 22 Karyn Wright picked up her first win of the season with a complete game against Seattle. She allowed just one run over seven innings for the Vikings' first home win of the season. 
• March 1 Kortney Craker named Big Sky Player of the Week, while Alyssa Burk named Big Sky Pitcher of the Week. It was the first weekly honor sweep since 2013. 
• March 1 Kortney Craker named College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week.
• Feb. 28 Kortney Craker named Bank of Hawaii Invitational Most Valuable Player. Brianna Celaya and Alyssa Burk named to the All-Tournament Team. 
• Feb. 28 Candice Orozco hits pinch hit go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh to defeat Utah Valley, 4-3. Alyssa Burk picked up her second win of the season with second straight complete game.
• Feb. 27 Alyssa Burk threw first complete-game shutout with a 1-0 win over Hawaii. She struck out a career-high 10 batters, the most by a Viking since 2013. 
• Feb. 26 Portland State picked up its first win of the season over Utah Valley, 6-5. Kortney Craker hit first career walk-off home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh. 
• Feb. 19 Alex Flores hit first home run of the season against CSUN. Flores went 4-for-4 with a career-high four hits. She also drove in a career-high five runs. 
• Feb. 14 Brianna Celaya hit the first home run of the season by a Viking against Arizona State. 

2016 Preseason Notes
• Head Coach Barb Sherwood is in her third year of leading the Vikings. Portland State doubled its win total from year one to year two in both overall and Big Sky Conference wins in 2015. 
• Portland State returns six starters, 13 letterwinners, and nearly its entire pitching staff from last year's squad that went 16-35 overall and 8-13 in conference play. The Vikings add five newcomers, which includes a pair of freshmen and three transfers. 
• Portland State will have to replace the majority of its offensive production from a year ago. The Vikings graduated two seniors who accounted for over 30-percent of the team's hits (112), doubles (17), and RBIs (71), while accounting for 54-percent of the team's home runs (13).
• The Portland State pitching staff tallied a 4.72 team ERA in 2015 which was 2.38 points better than the previous season. The Vikings will have to continue to improve their team ERA if they want to contend for their second Big Sky Conference championship.
• The Big Sky Conference Tournament has been expanded to six teams for the 2016 season. The double-elimination tournament will be hosted by the regular season champion May 12-14. 
• Head softball coach Barb Sherwood has announced addition of 10 players for the for the 2016-17 academic year on Nov. 11, 2015. Sierra Boyajian (Newhall, CA/Hart HS), Marissa Bruno (Monterey, CA/Santa Catalina HS), Riley Casper (Encinitas, CA, La Costa Canyon HS), Elena Cook (Boise State, ID/Boise HS), Emma Datamore (Woodland Hills, CA/Louisville HS), Taylor Gunesch (Salem, OR/West Salem HS), Korina Krueg (Lodi, CA/Tokay HS), Alexis Morrison (Pendleton, OR/Pendleton HS), Alexxis Ponce (Whittier, CA/Santa Fe HS), and Hannah Self (Tigard, OR/Tualatin HS) will all join the Vikings in the fall of 2016.