PHOENIX, Ariz. – Portland State suffered a pair of shutout losses on the first day of the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, Ariz. falling to San Jose State (8-0 in five innings) and Grand Canyon (2-0).
 
The Vikings (0-7 overall) may have dropped a pair of games but they picked up their best pitching performance of the season. Sophomore RHP Alyssa Burk threw the team's first complete game of the season allowing just two runs, one earned, in the loss to Grand Canyon with four strikeouts.
 
Freshman OF Tayler Gunesch went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Vikings with a double, a walk, and a stolen base. SheaLee Lindsey and Shae Nelson each picked up a pair of hits on the day.  
 
San Jose State 8, Portland State 0 – 5 Innings
 
San Jose State opened the game with three runs in the top of the first inning. After the first two runners reached via catcher's interference and a double to left center, the Spartans hit a three-run home run off Vikings' starting pitcher Emma Detamore to go up 3-0.
 
The Vikings had runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the first inning but were unable to pick up the big hit to drive in a run. That would be a sign of things to come for the Vikings as they went just 1-for-13 with runners on base and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position for the game.
 
Detamore settled down after the first inning and threw a perfect inning in the top of the second, including her only strikeout of the game. After getting two outs in the top of the third, Detamore loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single. She induced a groundout to second to get out of the jam.
 
Portland State got its leadoff runner on base in the third and fourth innings but were both wiped out due to a double play and a runner caught stealing.
 
San Jose State got to Detamore in the top of the fifth. The Spartans plated five runs, two off Detamore and three off relief pitcher Elena Cook, to go up 8-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
 
Nelson led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, her second hit of the game. Lindsey advanced Nelson to second when she reached on an error to put two runners on. The next batter grounded into reached on a fielder's choice with Nelson being thrown out at third for the first out of the inning. PSU's next batter grounded into a double play to end the Vikings' scoring opportunity, which ended the game via the eight-run rule.
 
Detamore picked up the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, over a career-high 4 1/3 innings pitched. She walked four and struck out one.
 
Grand Canyon 2, Portland State 0
 
Burk started the second game of the day and retired the first four batters she faced. After allowing her first base runner, she set down the next five, holding Grand Canyon scoreless over the first three innings.
 
Lindsey led off the top of the fourth with an infield single to third base. Marissa Bruno doubled to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. The next batter grounded out to third for the first out. Hannah Self came up to the plate and attempted to drop down a bunt as the suicide squeeze was on. She popped it up to the catcher who threw out Lindsey trying to get back to third base for an inning-ending double play.
 
The Lopes' leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on the play. The runner moved to third on a wild pitch before a single drove in the game's first run to put GCU up 1-0.
 
After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, a double drove in the runner from second to make it a 2-0 game. The Vikings' defense came up with a big play throwing the runner out at third after she attempted to stretch the double to a triple. After allowing two more hits in the inning, Burk got out of the jam by picking up her third strikeout of the game.
 
Down 2-0, the Vikings headed to the top of the seventh. After the first two batters recorded outs, Gunesch and Riley Casper worked back-to-back walks to put two runners on. Alexxis Ponce singled up the middle for her first career hit but Gunesch was gunned out at the plate trying to score from second for the final out of the game.
 
Burk picked up the loss despite her first complete game of the season. She allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits. She walked one and struck out four.
 
The Vikings continue play at the GCU Invitational Saturday with two more games. They open the day with a rematch against San Jose State before facing Nevada later in the day.