SEATTLE – Portland State held a narrow 1-0 lead into the sixth but a five-run inning gave the Seattle Redhawks the 5-1 win to close out play at the Seattle University Invitational Sunday afternoon in Seattle, Wash.
 
Portland State (7-17 overall) had the bases loaded in the top of the first inning after a pair of singles and a walk. Unfortunately, the next batter popped out to short and the runner at third was doubled off on the play to end the scoring opportunity.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Sydnee Machado led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. The next two batters recorded outs before Kaela Morrow doubled into the gap to drive in Machado from first to give the Vikings the lead.
 
Serafine Parrish started the game in the circle for the Vikings and threw five scoreless innings, while stranding seven runners on base. The Redhawks finally got to Parrish in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The leadoff hitter singled to right before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. An RBI double followed by an RBI single drove in two runs to give Seattle the 2-1 lead and drive Parrish from the game. Three more runs came across the plate in the bottom of the sixth as Seattle took a 5-1 lead.
 
Portland State got a two out single in the top of the seventh but that would be it as they fell by the final four-run margin.
 
Parrish allowed three earned runs on seven hits. She walked two and struck out two over a career-high 5 1/3 innings in the losing effort.
 
Tayler Gunesch, Darian Lindsey, and Morrow accounted for six of the Vikings' seven hits as the bottom two-thirds of the lineup went a combined 1-for-16 at the plate.
 
Portland State returns home next week to open Big Sky Conference play against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The Vikings open the three-game series on Friday, March 23 with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. PT.