SEATTLE – The Vikings went toe-to-toe with No. 1 Washington but the top-ranked team in the nation came out on top, 4-1, in the final game of the Husky Classic Sunday afternoon in Seattle, Wash.
 
The first three innings between Washington (23-0 overall) and Portland State (2-12) turned into defensive struggle as the game remained scoreless.  
 
The Huskies led off the bottom of the first with a single and a hit by pitch to put two runners on with nobody out. A fielder's choice moved both runners into scoring position. The Vikings got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play on a liner to short.
 
The Vikings struck first in the top of the fourth. Darian Lindsey led off the inning with a single to right. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kaela Morrow. Lindsey stole third before the next batter struck out for the second out of the inning. Alexis Morrison came up with the big RBI single to right to give PSU the 1-0 lead.
 
It did not take long for the Huskies to answer. They tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and then added another run in the inning off PSU starting pitcher Alyssa Burk to make it a 2-1 game.
 
Washington tacked on a pair of unearned runs after a fielding error with two outs extended the inning.
 
Washington starter Taran Alvelo allowed just one base runner over her final three innings of work to close out the complete game win.
 
Burk was tabbed with the loss after allowing two earned on four hits over three innings. Serafine Parrish came on in relief in the fourth and allowed two unearned runs over two innings. Haley Schimmel threw the final inning, allowing one hit, while picking up a strikeout.
 
Riley Casper was the only other Viking to record a hit in the ballgame. They continued to struggle with runners on base, going 1-for-9.
 
After playing their first 14 games away from home, the Vikings open their home slate Wednesday, March 7 against the Toledo Rockets. The doubleheader at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro, Ore. is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.