HONOLULU – The Portland State softball team dropped a heartbreaker against Hawaii, falling 8-7 on the final day of the Hawaii Invitational at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
With a 7-4 lead by the Vikings, Hawaii scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, capped off by a two-run go-ahead home run to stun Portland State.
 
The Vikings drop to 3-12 overall on the year, losing both matchups to the Rainbow Wahine who improve to 8-8 overall.
 
Marissa Bruno led the Vikings with two RBIs while Emily Johansen and Riley Casper each recorded two hits on the day.
 
Hawaii jumped out in front during the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs while hitting its first home run of the game, a two run shot to left field to go up 3-0.
 
Portland State answered immediately as Johansen led off the fourth inning with a single to center field while Alexis Morrison followed up with a double to put two runners on base. Johansen scored the first run of the game for PSU as Bruno reached base on a fielding error. After a bunt by Ashley Doyle moved the runners over, Ariana Abalos grounded out to the pitcher, scoring Morrison in the process. Riley Casper tied the game with a single to left field, scoring Bruno to make it 3-3.
 
The Vikings continued their offensive run in the fifth, as Darian Lindsey hit a lead-off double while Johansen forced a walk. After Morrison moved the runners with a sac bunt, Bruno hit a two-RBI double for her first hit of the game. Ashlyn Monroe entered as a pinch runner, coming around to score as Jessica Flanagan singled to bring her home and give the Vikings a 6-3 advantage.

UH cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, hitting an RBI-single to left center to make it 6-4 with two innings to play.
 
Haley Schimmel started in the circle for the Vikings, tossing 3.1 innings with three runs off of eight hits while Katie Schroeder pitched 2.2 innings of work with five runs off three hits while collecting two strikeouts on the day.
 
Portland State scored its final run in the sixth as Johansen singled to right field to score Tayler Gunesch for her 14^th RBI of the season.
 
Hawaii led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk before an RBI single brought in the first run of the inning. The Rainbow Wahine cut the lead to one run, scoring on a throwing error before their second home run gave them the lead. UH sealed the win after recording three straight outs to end the game.
 
The Viking will make their second trip to Southern California next week as they compete at the 2020 Gaucho Classic hosted by Santa Barbara beginning Friday, Feb. 28.