TEMPE, Ariz. – The Portland State softball team had a strong start to the 2020 season, beginning with a 13-2 over Western Michigan before falling to 22^nd-ranked Arizona State 10-0 on day one of the Kajikawa Classic.
 
The Vikings (1-1) found some early production from their newcomers as freshman infielder Emily Johansen finished with five RBIs on the day, hitting a grand slam against Western Michigan for the first home run of her career.
 
Freshman pitcher Olivia Grey tossed 4.1 innings combined, allowing three earned runs off of five hits with three walks and five strikeouts, including four against Arizona State.
 
Katie Schroeder led the Vikings in wins a season ago and picked up an early victory against the Broncos while Marissa Bruno tallied two triples while scoring three runs to highlight the day.
 
GAME ONE: PORTLAND STATE 13, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2
The Vikings made quick work of Western Michigan's pitching, scoring two runs in the first and second innings to go up 4-0. Johansen started her big offensive day with an RBI single in the first to score Bruno followed by an RBI groundout by Rachel Menlove.
 
In the second, Bruno hit her first triple of the day, scoring Tayler Gunesch before Darian Lindsey doubled for her second RBI of the day.
 
Western Michigan fought back in the third inning, scoring two runs off of a two-run homer to left field to make it 4-2 but that would be the closest the Broncos come to the lead.
 
Schroeder picked up where she left off last season for Portland State, earning the win after tossing four innings while allowing four hits, two runs, and a walk.
 
After scoring one run in the fourth inning, the Viking poured on eight runs in the fifth, capped off by Johansen's gland slam, to give PSU a commanding 13-2 lead. Also collecting an RBI in the inning were Alexxis Ponce, Ashley Doyle, and Gunesch.
 
Freshman pitcher Olivia Grey threw the final inning, giving up a walk with no hits and a strikeout to end the game.
 
GAME TWO: #22 ARIZONA STATE 10, PORTLAND STATE 0
Arizona State jumped out ahead, scoring six runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Jazmine Hill.
 
The Vikings settled down in the second inning but struggled to find any offense as the Sun Devils extended their lead to 9-0, adding three more runs in the third inning.
 
Grey tossed 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs while tallying four strikeouts.
 
Down 10-0 in the top of the fifth, Doyle broke up the no-hitter for Arizona State, hitting a hard single to left field for the only hit of the game.
 
 
The Vikings continue the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow as they take on a couple of Pac-12 opponents beginning with Arizona at 8 a.m., followed by Utah at 1 p.m.
 
KAJIKAWA DAY ONE QUICK HITS:
-The Vikings improved to 1-0 all-time against Western Michigan, winning the first-ever game between these teams.
-Emily Johansen hit her first career home run, a grand slam in the fifth inning against WMU.
-Katie Schroeder now has 10 career victories, earning the decision against Western Michigan.
-Ashley Doyle broke up the no-hitter against Arizona State, hitting a single to left field in the top of the fifth.
-Marissa Bruno tied her game-high of runs scored with three against the Broncos. Her two triples were the most she has ever hit in a game and tied her season-high of two, set in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.