PORTLAND, Ore. – Coming off a memorable season in 2021 that included a Big Sky Championship and an NCAA Regional appearance, the Portland State softball team is eager to kickoff its 2022 campaign this weekend. The Vikings will open the season with a five-game slate at the Lynn Russell Miller Classic in Riverside, Calif, starting with a doubleheader against Utah Valley and Pacific on Friday, Feb. 11.

PRESEASON POLL

The Vikings were picked second in the 2022 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Jan. 31. Totaling 28 points and two first-place votes, PSU was chosen below defending regular-season Champion Weber State, who received 34 points and four first-place votes.

WHAT'S IN STORE

Portland State will play a 46-game regular-season schedule that features 28 non-conference contests and six Big Sky Conference series.

The Vikings are no stranger to a challenging non-conference schedule, and this year will be no different. They'll compete in four tournaments on the road, including three consecutive to open the season. Non-conference opponents include 22nd-ranked Louisiana, 20th-ranked Arizona State, and 16th-ranked Oregon.

The Vikings will host non-conference games against Robert Morris (March 4-5), Corban (March 16), Pacific (March 23), and Warner Pacific (March 6) at Gordon Faber Field. They'll close out their home schedule with three Big Sky series against Northern Colorado (April 8-9), Southern Utah (April 15-16), and Weber State (6-7).

The rest of the Big Sky slate takes place on the road, beginning with Montana (March 26-27), followed by Sacramento State (April 1-2) and Idaho State (April 29-30).

The Big Sky Championship will be held May 11-14 in Ogden, Utah. At the end of the regular season, the top six teams in the standings will advance to the double-elimination tournament. The tournament champion will earn the Big Sky's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

ROSTER AT A GLANCE

Sixth-year head coach Meadow McWhorter and assistants Kellie Wilkerson and Iris Rodriguez will lead a 19-man roster this season. Despite losing a handful of upperclassmen in 2021, the Vikings will return a core group of starters from a year ago. Honorable Mention All-Big Sky selections Olivia Grey, Emily Johansen, Maddie Thompson, Olivia Dean, and Paetynn Lopez are among the returners.

The roster will feature seven new faces, including six freshmen. Playing the final season of her career at Portland State is senior catcher Jenny Marnin, a transfer from Southwest Oregon Community College. Marnin will be the Vikings' lone senior in 2022. Freshmen outfielders Neveah Smith (Medford, Ore.), Kiara McCrea (Hillsboro, Ore.), and Grace Johnson (Roseville, Calif.), infielders Ellie Babbitt (Albany, Ore.), Natalia Martinez (Salinas, Calif.), and pitcher Annie Lemos (Roseville, Calif.) will make their collegiate debuts this season. 

IN THE CIRCLE

Olivia Grey will lead Portland State on the rubber after starting all seven of the Vikings postseason games last season. The 2021 Big Sky Tournament Most Valuable Player finished her sophomore year with an 8-8 record and a 4.96 ERA, holding opponents to a .233 batting average.

Also returning in the circle for the Vikings are Marisol Gaona and Allicitie Frost. Gaona appeared in 14 games last season, earning a 4-1 record in the process. Frost held her opponents to a .256 batting average during her 13 appearances, finishing her freshman campaign with the second-most strikeouts on the staff (14).

BEHIND THE PLATE

Sophomore catchers Julia Perkins and Paetynn Lopez will be back for their second season with the Vikings. Lopez spent 2021 as a key designated hitter, appearing in 35 games and racking up 19 RBIs.

INFIELDERS

Olivia Dean, who recorded the third-highest batting average on the team last year (.353), will return to the infield after an impressive debut season at shortstop. The Centralia College transfer was solid defensively in 2021, recording a .965 fielding percentage over 40 starts.

Emily Johansen, who started 40 games last season, will continue her Viking career after posting 19 RBIs and four home runs in 2021. With 31 starts at second base during her freshman campaign, Maddie Thompson will return as a valuable asset to the Viking's infield.

Shea Garcia and Mariah Rodriguez will also be back this season after seeing action in 2021. Garcia hit .317, appearing in 25 contests, while Rodriguez spent time at second base, making 25 appearances, including 18 starts.  

OUTFIELDERS

Having lost a pair of key outfielders last year, the Vikings will look to sophomores Alexa Cepeda and Logan Riggenbach to lead the way. Cepeda saw significant time in left field during her freshman season, starting 34 games and hitting .306. Riggenbach played in 25 contests, recording nine hits.

OPENING WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Lynn Russell Miller Classic – Riverside, Calif. (Feb.11-13)
Portland State vs. Utah Valley – February 11 (9 a.m.)
Portland State vs. Pacific (Calif.) – February 11 (11:30 a.m.)
Portland State vs. Pacific (Calif.) – February 12 (9 a.m.)
Portland State vs. California Riverside – February 12 (2 p.m.)
Portland State vs. Utah Valley – February 13 (9 a.m.)

UTAH VALLEY

On Friday, the Wolverines will open their season against the Vikings after finishing 2021 with a 24-28 record and a trip to the 2018 WAC Tournament. Utah Valley is led by first-year head coach Cody Thomson. Portland State holds a 14-8 record over the Wolverines. The Vikings earned a 6-4 victory in the last meeting between the teams in 2016.

PACIFIC (CALIF.)

Following a 14-14-1 record a year ago, the Tigers will begin their 2022 campaign against Portland State on Friday. They're led by Brian Kolze, who has spent 29 seasons at the helm of the Tigers program. Pacific leads the all-time series against the Vikings 15-3. One of PSU's only wins came in the last meeting in 2019 when they earned a 7-0 win.

UC RIVERSIDE

The Highlanders finished 2021 with a 7-26 record, earning wins against California Baptist, CUSN, Cal Poly, Hawaii and UC San Diego. They'll play their season opener against Utah Valley on Friday before taking on the Vikings on Saturday. Portland State leads the all-time series 13-10 after posting a 6-5 victory in their last meeting in 2019.