EL PASO, Texas – The Vikings split a pair of games on day two at the UTEP Tournament in El Paso, Texas. Portland State opened the day with a 6-5 comeback win over New Mexico State, before falling 17-4 in five innings to UTEP in the second half of a day-night double-dip.
 
The Vikings (2-6 overall) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against New Mexico State with back-to-back one-out home runs by Darian Lindsey and Kaela Morrow. Portland State made it a 4-0 game with two more runs in the bottom of the second inning.
 
Marissa Bruno doubled in Alexis Morrison who led off the second inning with the walk. After Bruno moved to third on an infield single by Taylor Gunesch, she came in to score on a wild pitch.
 
The Vikings got one of their best pitching outings of the young season out of sophomore RHP Emma Detamore. She threw four shutout innings, allowing just two runners to reach. The Vikings' defense got Detamore into trouble in the top of the fifth inning. New Mexico State's leadoff batter reached on an error, which led to a pair of unearned runs in the inning, as the Aggies cut the lead to 4-2.
 
New Mexico State doubled to lead off the top of the sixth which drove Detamore from the game. Freshman RHP Serafine Parrish came on in relief. The Aggies plated three runs in the inning, two earned, to take the lead at 5-4.
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings hit back-to-back home runs once again. This time it was Ashley Doyle and Kortney Craker who hit the solo shots to give the Vikings the 6-5 advantage.
 
Parrish worked around a leadoff single and a two-out walk but did not surrender a run in the seventh to close out the game for her first career win.
 
Detamore allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits over five innings of work. She walked one and struck out two in the no decision. Parrish picked up the win in relief. She allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits over the final two innings.
 
Portland State had the worst home run per game mark in the nation a year ago, hitting just four home runs on the season. They matched that total Saturday against the Aggies. It was the most home runs in a single game for PSU since it hit five home runs against Hawaii in 2014.
 
The UTEP offense was too much for the Portland State pitchers in the second game of the day. The Miners plated five runs in the first and 10 runs in the second to take a 15-0 lead at the end of two complete.
 
Lindsey drove in a run with a single and Rachel Menlove walked with the bases loaded to make it a 15-2 game at the end of three. Portland State added two more runs in the top of the fourth on a Gunesch RBI single and a Morrow RBI double to right center.
 
UTEP added a pair on a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth to take a 17-4 lead. Portland State was unable to add any more runs in the top of the fifth to fall 17-4 in five innings.
 
The Vikings will face the Miners one more time Sunday, Feb. 25. First pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m. PT.