OGDEN, Utah – The Vikings dropped their first game of the 2016 Big Sky Conference Championship presented by Red Lion® Hotels by a final score of 12-0 in five innings Thursday afternoon in Ogden, Utah.
 
Portland State struggled at the plate, tallying just four hits on the day. Junior OF SheaLee Lindsey went 2-for-3 at the plate with singles in the first and third innings.
 
After a scoreless top of the first, Idaho State jumped out to a 6-0 lead with six runs in the bottom of the frame. The Bengals scored all six runs, five earned off Vikings' starting pitcher Megan Hendrix. Hendrix was lifted with one out and the bases loaded in the inning for Kristen Crawford who finished out the inning.  
 
Idaho State added a run in the bottom of the second off Crawford to take a 7-0 lead at the end of two complete.
 
Freshman catcher Kaela Morrow doubled to lead off the top of the third before being lifted for pinch runner Celena Carrisosa. Two batters later, Lindsey recorded her second hit of the game. A Shae Nelson walk loaded the bases with just one out. The next batter for the Vikings hit into an inning-ending double play to kill the Vikings' threat.
 
The Bengals added four more in the bottom of the third and one in the bottom of the fourth to go up 12-0.
 
Junior Jenna Stanford recorded a pinch hit single with two outs in the top of the fifth but that would be all the Vikings would get in the inning, falling via the run rule.
 
Hendrix was tabbed with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned over just 1/3 inning pitched. She allowed four hits and walked one, falling to 4-13 with the loss.
 
Idaho State improved to 26-21 with the win, while Portland State fell to 14-34 with the loss.
 
Portland State will head to the loser's bracket and face the loser of the Weber State vs. Montana game Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. MT.