MISSOULA, Mont. – The Vikings dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Montana Grizzlies Saturday afternoon in Missoula, Mont. Montana took the first game 8-0 in five innings before coming back and taking game two, 5-3, to take the series.
 
The Vikings struggled at the plate most of the day. They were out-scored 13-3 and out-hit 19-9 over the two games. Portland State went just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-12 with two outs.
 
Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix tallied two of the team's nine hits on the day, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two. She is 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate this season with a pair of RBIs.
 
Senior Ashley Smith and junior Shae Nelson each tallied two hits and drove in a run in game two.
 
Game 1 – Montana 8, Portland State 0 – Five Innings
 
Montana threatened to score in each of the first two innings before plating a run in the bottom of the third, a solo home run to center field, off Portland State starting pitcher Karyn Wright.
 
The Grizzlies plated seven runs on just four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the game via the run rule.
 
The Vikings managed just one base runner, a Candice Orozco walk to lead off the top of the second, against Montana Starting pitcher Maddy Stensby.
 
Stensby was the beneficiary of the Grizzlies seven-run fifth inning as she was credited with the programs' first no-hitter. She walked just one and struck out two in the game.
 
Game 2 – Montana 5, Portland State 3
 
After dropping a tough game one, Portland State threatened in the top of the first inning in game two. SheaLee Lindsey led off the game, reaching on an error. Shae Nelson recorded the Vikings' first hit of the day, an infield single to third base off Stensby. Portland State was unable to score after Lindsey was thrown out trying to steal third, which was followed by a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
 
Brianna Celaya doubled to left center with one out in the top of the fourth. Smith traded places with her with a double to right center, bringing in Celaya for the game's first run. After a walk and an infield fly for the second out, PSU's game two starter, Hendrix, singled to left field to drive in Smith and put the Vikings up 2-0.
 
Portland State added a run in the top of the fifth after Lindsey singled up the middle to lead off the inning. She moved her way to third before scoring on an Orozco single through the left side, to put PSU up 3-0.
 
After throwing five shutout innings, Hendrix got into trouble in the sixth. She allowed five consecutive singles and a walk to start the inning, which loaded the bases and plated thee runs to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Back-to-back bases-loaded groundouts drove in runs to put Montana up 5-3 heading to the top of the seventh. The Vikings got one runner on, via an error, but were unable to tie the game, falling 5-3.
 
The Grizzlies' win in game two gave them the series heading into Sunday's series finale. The two wins also allowed Montana to jump Portland State in the Big Sky standings. Montana is now 17-23 overall and 6-5 in Big Sky play. Portland State fell to 11-24 and 5-6.