STOCKTON, Calif. – The Vikings dropped a pair of games to open the Louisville Slugger Tournament hosted by the University of the Pacific Friday afternoon in Stockton, Calif. The Vikings fell to East Carolina 14-2 in five innings to start the day before falling 6-0 to host Pacific in game two.
 
East Carolina plated five runs in the top of the first in game one of the day, all via the long ball off Portland State starting pitcher Alyssa Burk to take a 5-0 lead.
 
The Vikings cut into the lead in with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Hannah Self led off the inning with a single to right field. She worked her way around the bases before being driven in from third on a fielder's choice RBI from Shae Nelson.
 
The Pirates hit a pair of solo home runs in the top of the third inning and then plated seven runs, six unearned, in the top of the fifth to make it 14-1.
 
Portland State added a run in the bottom of the fifth after Marissa Bruno walked and then came around to score on a fielder's choice by Alexis Morrison, but the Vikings would fall 14-2 in five innings.
 
Game two of the day started like game one. Pacific plated two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run off Burk. She gave up back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third as the Tigers went up 5-0.
 
Pacific added another run in the bottom of the fifth, on a solo home run off Emma Detamore, to go up 6-0.
 
The Vikings stranded nine runners, six in scoring position, against Pacific and were unable to plate as they were shutout for the fourth time this season.
 
The Portland State pitching staff struggled on the day, giving up 19 runs over 12 innings. The Vikings allowed eight home runs over the two games.
 
The Vikings will have to put these games quickly behind them as they hit the dirt twice Saturday. PSU opens the day against East Carolina at 10 a.m. PT followed by Seton Hall at 12:15 p.m.