The Portland State Vikings split a doubleheader against Northern Colorado in the first home series of the Big Sky season on Friday afternoon. The Vikings led for 13 out the 14 total innings, but suffered a setback in game one. In the two games, PSU had 23 hits and 10 total runs.

The Vikings also got Tayler Gunesch back into the lineup for her season debut and she made the most of it going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in her first action of the year. Darian Lindsey also had a highlight with a home run - her second of the season - in the second game.

"I was so proud of them offensively," head coach Meadow McWhorter said. "One of the things that we did talk about as a team was that we need to be better with runners in scoring position, taking care of all of our opportunities. But collectively they hit the ball, had a really great presence and were hitting the ball where it was pitched. (UNC's Valerie) Vidal has been one of the top pitchers in our conference but they stayed patient and made her throw to them."

The Vikings also got a gem from Alyssa Burk inside the circle in the second game, throwing a complete game three-hitter. She struck out 10 in the effort, the highest total in a single game by any Viking this season. Her momentum began in game one, where she came on in the top of the seventh in a jam.

"I was really proud of her even coming into game one," McWhorter said of Burk. "We only had one out, we had just lost the lead and things could have been shaky. But that was the epitome of the senior in the circle. We gave her the ball, she struck out the next two and gave us confidence going in to the bottom."

Game One - Northern Colorado 7, Portland State 6

Tayler Gunesch made quite the statement in her first game of the season and gave the Vikings the perfect start to their conference home opener. A pair of PSU singles followed by a defensive error loaded the bases for her with two outs, the ultimate pressure situation after missing every game so far this season.

But Gunesch delivered, ripping a two RBI single into center to give the Vikings an early lead.

In the second inning, a Marissa Bruno leadoff double into left center turned into a 3-0 lead for the Vikings when Lindsey laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring her home. Northern Colorado answered with a run of their own in the top of the third, but Alexis Morrison smacked an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to keep PSU ahead 4-1.

A two-run homer by the Bears cut the lead to 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Again, however, the Viking had an answer. Sala Pedebone led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. Rachel Menlove then brought her home with a double into center field. Morrison had her second RBI of the game later in the inning, scoring Menlove and giving Portland State a 6-3 lead with two innings to play.

Maddee Blood-Smyth had a two-RBI triple for Northern Colorado in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to just one run again. Then in the top of the seventh, the lead crashed down around PSU. The Vikings used three different pitchers, had a fielding error and two wild pitches that helped Northern Colorado take a 7-6 lead.

Alyssa Burk came in and closed the door, getting out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts, but the damage had been done. Menlove got on base in the bottom half of the inning, but the Vikings couldn't score and fell in the opener.

Game Two - Portland State 4, Northern Colorado 0

This game was all about Burk inside the circle. She went the distance, striking out a season-high 10 batters and allowing just three hits. The defense backed her up with a clean game and the offense provided more than enough pop to give the Vikings momentum heading into the series finale tomorrow.

"Alyssa really set the tone for us in the circle," McWhorter said. "Low pitch count, attacking hitter, not getting behind. She was dealing today and it was fun to watch."

The Vikings, just like in the first game, got on the board in the opening inning. Jessica Flanagan beat out an infield single and a defensive miscue by Northern Colorado on the next at bat put two runners on. Menlove then poked one into right, scoring Flanagan and putting the Vikings ahead 1-0 after the first.

In the second inning, Lindsey provided the spark with a towering two-run home run into left field to make it 3-0. The Vikings got their fourth and final run in the third inning on an RBI single from Bruno that scored Kaela Morrow.

Burk did the rest, allowing just one hit over the final four innings to pick up her second win on the season. After the tough ending to the first game, McWhorter was proud to see her team answer with a statement win in game two.

"I'm proud that they flushed (game one's ending) because the expectation was to win two today," McWhorter said. "We will have that mentality coming into tomorrow that we have to win."

The Vikings and Bears conclude their series tomorrow. The first pitch will be at 12 p.m. and the game can be seen on Pluto TV Channel 232 or in person at the Gordon Faber Complex.