MISSOULA, Mont. – The Vikings suffered their first Big Sky Conference series sweep, falling to Montana, 8-2, Sunday afternoon in Missoula, Mont.
 
Portland State got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior OF SheaLee Lindsey reached on a bunt single to start the game. After moving her way around to third, senior OF Candice Orozco drove her in on a single to center, to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The Vikings' lead did not last long as they allowed two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, giving the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead. Montana added two more runs off PSU starting pitcher Meagan Hendrix in the bottom of the second to go up 4-1.
 
Montana added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to go up 8-1 after scoring eight unanswered runs in the game.
 
Pinch hitter Kaela Morrow singled through the left side in the top of the seventh before being lifted for pinch runner Mariah Gonzalez. Gonzalez moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third on a single off the bat of Hendrix, who became the designated player after being lifted in the second inning.
 
Lindsey drove in Gonzalez on a fielder's choice but there were two outs in the inning. The next batter popped out and the Vikings fell 8-2.
 
Hendrix went 1-for-3 at the plate in the game after going 2-for-3 with a RBI in the second game of the series. She has now hit safely in each game in which she has recorded an at bat this season.
 
Orozco went 2-for-3 in the game with a RBI. She has hit safely in six of the last seven games and has reached safely in each of the last eight games. She is hitting a career-high .321 for the season.
 
Hendrix was tabbed with the loss, falling to 3-7 on the season. She allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits over the first 1 2/3 innings.
 
Montana improved to 18-23 on the season and 7-5 in Big Sky Conference play. Portland State fell to 11-25 and 5-7.
 
Portland State is on the road again next weekend for a three-game set at Northern Colorado. The Bears are 5-29 overall and 1-11 in Big Sky play.
 
NOTES:
• Junior LHP Meagan Hendrix has hit safely in each game that she has recorded a plate appearance this season.
• Senior OF Candice Orozco has reached base in each of the last eight games.
• Portland State was swept in a Big Sky series for the first time this season.