TEMPE, Ariz. - The Portland State softball team split its doubleheader on day two of the Littlewood Classic this afternoon, earning a 4-1 victory over UTEP before dropping the second game to Cal, 11-2.
The Vikings sit at 6-3 on the season as they head into the weekend's final game on Sunday.
Olivia Grey earned the victory over UTEP, improving to 5-0 in the circle. The Junior tossed her third complete game of the season, finishing with nine strikeouts and giving up zero earned runs.
The Miners scored a run in the top of the first inning, but the Vikings quickly answered. Olivia Dean knotted things at one, knocking an RBI single to score Maddie Thompson.
Portland State was quiet offensively until a fifth-inning leadoff double from Kiara McCrea. The Freshman stole home a few plays later to give PSU the lead. After an RBI from Emily Johansen, Logan Riggenbach capped off the Vikings' scoring with a solo shot over the center-field wall.
In the final innings, Grey and the defense held their ground to secure the 4-1 win. The Vikings finished with eight hits, four coming from Riggenbach and Alexa Cepeda.
PSU lost its second game of the day as Cal revenged yesterday's loss.
The Bears took an early 2-0 lead before Paetynn Lopez brought the Vikings within one with a solo shot in the second inning.
Cal broke things open in the third frame, scoring eight runs off of five hits to take a 10-1 advantage before adding another in the fourth. After an RBI from Dean in the bottom of the fifth, PSU did not score again as the Bears clinched the 11-2 run-rule victory.
Marisol Gaona took the loss for the Vikings, her first of the season. Dean tallied two of Portland State's six hits while Cal totaled 11 in the contest.
The Vikings will close out the weekend in Tempe with a single game on Sunday against Illinois State (7 a.m. PT).
