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FIRST PITCH
     After an early bye week, the Vikings hit the road again this week for the GCU Invitational (Feb. 24-26) hosted by Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz. 
     Portland State is slated for five games at the GCU Invitational starting with San Jose State on Friday, Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m. MT before taking on host Grand Canyon later in the day. The Vikings will play twice on Saturday with another game against San Jose State before facing Nevada. 
     Portland State will conclude the GCU Invitational against the Rhode Island Rams in the first ever meeting between the two schools. 

ONLINE: Live stats will be available for all five games at the GCU Invitational. Links are available on the softball schedule page at GoViks.com.

LIVE VIDEO: There will be a live video stream for Friday's game against Grand Canyon. 

SOCIAL MEDIA: Stay informed with Portland State Softball on social media. See below for everything related to Portland State Softball.
• Twitter - @PortlandStateSB
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• Facebook - @PortlandStateSB
• YouTube - @GoPortlandState

OPENING WEEK
The Vikings had a rough start to the season, going 0-5 at the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga. Portland State opened the year with a 2-0 lead against Dayton before allowing 10 unanswered runs, falling 10-2. PSU scratched out a run in each of the next four games but were unable to really put presure on opponents. 

YOUNG SQUAD
Portland State added 11 freshman to the roster heading into the season. The 11-member freshman class is tied for the largest in the country this year. 

DEBUTS
With the large freshman class, the Vikings have had 10 players make their Portland State debuts so far this season. All but one of the freshmen who made their PSU debuts have recorded at least one starts.

CLUTCH START  
Senior C/IF Katherine Kramer picked up the Vikings' first two RBIs of the year with a two-run double in her first at bat of the season in the top of the first inning in the season opener against Dayton (2/10). It was also the Vikings' first hit of the season. 

SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK  
Freshman C Hannah Self picked up her first career hit with a laser shot over the left field fence at Mercer (2/11). To make things even more special, it was her first career hit as well. 

FIRST HIT HOMERS
For the second time in the last three seasons, the Vikings have had a player record their first career hit via the long ball. Hannah Self achieved the feat this season. Jenna Stanford's first career hit came as a three-run home run against Utah Valley in 2015. 

UP NEXT
Portland State hits the road again next week for the University of the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif., March 3-5. The Vikings will take on East Carolina twice, Pacific twice, and Seton Hall. 

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SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS
• Team: San Jose state comes into the week 5-5 overall this season. The Spartans opened the season 3-3 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. before going 2-2 in a rain-shortened DeMarini Desert Classic last week in Las Vegas. The Spartans throttled Southern Utah last week, winning 11-2 in five innings. SJSU went 28-24 overall and finished second in Mountain West play with a 17-7 record. 
• Pitching: San Jose State has thrown four pitchers this season who have combined for a 4.66 ERA. They have allowed 36 runs, 33 earned, over 63 2/3 innings on the year and have allowed opponents to hit .316. Katelyn Linford leads the team with a 3-1 record on the year. She has thrown a team-high 27 innings and has allowed 11 earned for a 3.67 ERA. 
• Hitting: San Jose State enters play this week with a .254 team batting average. The Spartans have scored 41 runs with 34 runs batted in. They have hit just 14 extra-base hits for a .331 slugging percentage. SJSU has drawn 31 walks through 10 games and has a team on-base percentage of .354. The Spartans are 2-for-2 in stolen bases. 

GRAND CANYON LOPES
• Team: Grand Canyon comes into the week with a 10-1 record on the season and a 6-0 home record. The Lopes opened the year with seven-straight wins, including a trio of wins over Northern Colorado, before dropping their only game so far by one run (1-0) to No. 23 Baylor. Grand Canyon went 35-15 overall last season and 10-5 in Western Athletic Conference play. The Lopes finished the season on a six-game winning streak. 
• Pitching: Grand Canyon has thrown three pitchers this season who have combined for a 3.23 ERA. They have combined for just 28 earned runs over 78.0 innings pitched. Taylor Nowlin leads the team with a 7-1 record on the year. She has allowed 11 earned over 32 innings for a team-best 3.09 ERA. Nowlin has struck out a team-high 40 batters.  
• Hitting: Grand Canyon is hitting .322 as a team through 11 games with eight batters hitting over .300 with all eight having at least 10 at bats. Loriann Olson leads the team with a .414 batting average in 29 plate appearances. Two players have scored double-digit runs and two have five doubles on the year. Bianca Bolin his hitting just .206 on the year but has a team-high 11 RBIs on just seven hits. 

NEVADA WOLF PACK
• Team: Nevada comes into the week 5-3 on the season after a rain-shortened DeMarini Classic last weekend. The Wolf Pack went 32-15 overall and 10-10 in Mountain West play last season. They return six starters and two pitchers from last year's team. 
• Pitching: Nevada has thrown four pitchers this year who have combined for a 3.76 ERA. McKenna Isenberg is 3-1 on the season with a team-best 2.83 ERA. She has allowed 14 runs, 12 earned, over 29 2/3 innings pitched. She has struck out 34 and walked eight, while allowing opponents to hit .248. 
• Hitting: Nevada enters the week hitting .232 as a team. The Wolf Pack have scored 28 runs with eight doubles and a pair of home runs. Alyssa Mendez leads the team with a .333 batting average and leads the team with six RBIs. 

RHODE ISLAND RAMS
• Team: Rhode Island enters the GCU Invitational 1-4 overall this season. The Rams are coming off a pair of blowout losses to Ole Miss. Rhode Island went 12-32 overall last season and 3-18 in A10 play. The Rams finished the season on a 12-game losing streak.
• Pitching: Rhode Island has thrown five pitchers this season who have combined for an 11.58 ERA. Opponents have outscored Rhode Island 51-13 this season and are hitting .425. Becca Rogers is 1-1 on the season with a 6.56 ERA over a team-high 10 2/3 innings. She has allowed 16 runs, 10 earned, and has given up five home runs. 
• Hitting: Rhode Island is hitting .226 as a team with 13 runs over five games. Melanie Martire is hitting .429, going 3-for-7 with three runs scored, two home runs, and two RBIs. Ali Summers has two hits this season, both solo home runs.