SEATTLE, Wash. – The Vikings struggled in their first day of action at the Husky Classic hosted by the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. Portland State opened the day with an 11-3 loss to the BYU Cougars in five innings before falling 6-0 to the Northwestern Wildcats.
 
Portland State (2-9 overall) hit under .200, tallying seven hits and just two runs over the two games. Freshman Ariana Abalos picked up her first career hit going 1-for-2 against the Wildcats. Sophomore Riley Casper was the only Viking to record multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-6.
 
The Vikings got off to a good start in game one against BYU. They plated a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Taylor Gunesch led off the game with a walk. Darian Lindsey dropped down a sacrifice bunt but the Cougars tried to get Gunesch going to second and both were save. Both runners moved up 60 feet when the next batter grounded out to first.
 
Rachel Menlove dropped down a bunt and reached base safely when BYU tried, unsuccessfully to get Gunesch at the plate. A hit by pitch loaded the bases for Kortney Craker. She too was hit by a pitch to bring in Lindsey from third. The next batter grounded into a double-play to end the inning and the Vikings' best scoring opportunity of the game.
 
The lead did not last long as BYU plated three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Portland State had scoring opportunities over the next three innings but stranded six on base, five in scoring position as they were unable to plate another run.
 
Meanwhile, the Cougars added a run in the second and another in the third to go up 5-2.
 
After a scoreless fourth the game remained 5-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth. BYU plated six more runs, capped by a three-run home run, to win 11-2 in five innings.
 
Emma Detamore was tabbed with the loss, her second of the season. She allowed three earned runs on a pair of hits and did not record an out in the first inning.
 
The Vikings offensive struggles continued in their second game of the day. They managed just five hits over the seven-inning game but each hit came in a different inning and no runner was able to make it past second base.
 
Northwestern loaded the bases in the bottom of the second before getting a bases-clearing triple to go up 3-0. A hit by pitch put runners on the corners with two outs. The Wildcats attempted the double-steal, and the Vikings threw the runner out at second, but not before the runner from third was able to touch home plate to make it a 4-0 game.
 
The Wildcats added two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-0, which would be the final margin.
 
Alyssa Burk threw the complete game, allowing six runs, four earned, on five hits. She walked four and struck out four in the losing effort.
 
Portland State will face Northwestern again Saturday morning at 10 a.m. PT before facing No. 11 Alabama at 2:45 p.m. The Vikings conclude the Husky Classic on Sunday against No. 1 Washington.