PORTLAND – Coming off a dominant performance against Simpson University last week, the Portland State softball team will return to action on its home field with a pair of doubleheaders this week.
The Vikings will begin the week with a pair of games against Eastern Oregon on Monday (2 and 4) before taking on New Mexico State (3 and 5) on Tuesday to close out its non-conference schedule. Both games will be played at Gordon Faber Field in Hillsboro, Ore.
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings hope to build on their momentum from last week, coming into Monday's doubleheader with a 3-12 overall record and two-straight victories (12-2 and 5-0) over Simpson. The Vikings tallied 25 total hits, 17 runs, and seven stolen bases in their two wins against the Red Hawks.
BY THE NUMBERS
Team Batting Average:
Opponent Batting Average: .335 (127-379)
Errors/Fielding Percentage: 15 (.958)
ERA/Strikeouts/Walks: 9.48 ERA, 87 strikeouts, 56 walks
VIKING LEADERS
Batting Average – Olivia Dean (.333) and Rachel Menlove (.333)
Home Runs – Menlove (3)
RBI – Marissa Bruno (8) and Emily Johansen (8)
ERA – Allicitie Frost (3.68)
Strikeouts – Olivia Grey (29)
SPEED KILLS
The Vikings are 22-23 in stolen bases on the season, seeing 15 of those come in the last seven games. Maddie Thompson leads the way with seven while Bruno has added six. Neither Bruno nor Thompson have been thrown out this season.
TOP OF THE LINEUP
The top of the lineup for Portland State carried its offense at the Husky Classic two weekends ago, recording a .500 average between the three of them. Dean, Thompson, and Bruno combined for 18 total hits over four games in Seattle, tallying five RBI and 6 runs scored.
The trio added to their impressive totals against Simpson, combining for seven hits and 5 RBI in the doubleheader. Bruno shined in the leadoff spot, going 4-6 and 3 RBI.
Thompson and Bruno will enter the week after getting hits in five-straight games.
HOT BAT
The Vikings home run leader from the shortened 2020 season showed her dominance against Simpson last weekend. Finding her groove, Johansen went 3-3 in game one against the Red Hawks cashing in 3 RBI and one home run. The redshirt freshman followed up her big performance going 2-4 in the second contest while adding 1 RBI to lead the Vikings with 4 RBI on the day.
EASTERN OREGON
EOU will enter Monday with a 7-15 overall record, falling in its last five contests, four of those losses coming against the College of Idaho.
This will be the first matchup between the two teams.
NEW MEXICO STATE
NMSU will arrive in Portland with a .500 record at 13-13. Sinking both Idaho State and Southern Utah, the Aggies are riding a four-game win streak.
New Mexico State leads the all-time series over the Vikings 6-4, winning its last game over PSU in 2018 11-8.
