HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Vikings dropped their final non-conference game of the season, 8-0 in five innings, to the Oregon State Beavers Wednesday night at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro, Ore.
 
Portland State had fought the weather throughout its home slate but the weather was no problem as the sun came out and the temperatures reached into the low-to-mid 80's for Military Appreciation Day.
 
Unfortunately for Portland State (8-34 overall), as the temperature heated up, its bats did not. The Vikings were limited to just three-hits over their five innings. Senior IF Celena Carrisosa singled with one out in the bottom of the first for the Vikings first hit.
 
PSU had its best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman OF Tayler Gunesch dropped a perfect bunt single to the pitcher with one out. Senior IF/C Katherine Kramer singled through the left side to put two runners on. The next batter hit a good ball but right at the Beavers' third baseman, who tagged the bag and threw the batter out at first for an inning-ending double play.
 
Oregon State (25-22) plated four runs on three hits and two Portland State errors in the top of the first off PSU starting pitcher Kortney Craker. She got into trouble in the top of the second and allowed another run before being lifted for freshman Elena Cook. Cook loaded the bases with a walk but then got a fly out to right for the final out of the inning.
 
After working a scoreless third, Cook gave up two runs, one earned, as the Beavers took a 7-0 lead in the fourth. They added another run in the top of the fifth to go up 8-0 and put the run-rule into play.
 
The Vikings went in order in the bottom of the fifth to fall 8-0.
 
Craker was tabbed with the loss and fell to 0-3 on the season. She allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits over 1 2/3 innings. Cook threw a career-high 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits.
 
Portland State will have to bounce back quickly because the Sacramento State Hornets come to town this weekend for a pivotal three-game series to end the regular season. The series opens with a doubleheader on Friday, May 5 at 1 p.m. PT. The finale, which will be Senior Day, is slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.