MISSOULA, Mont. - The Portland State softball team started its Big Sky campaign 2-0 with a sweep of Montana on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings claimed a 3-2 nine-inning win in the opener before taking the nightcap 4-3 to clinch the series.

The opening day sweep marks the best start to Big Sky play in program history for the Vikings, as they improved to 18-10 on the season. Montana dropped to 12-16 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Sophomore outfielder Logan Riggenbach had a monster day at the plate, going 5-for-7 with two home runs and four RBIs, while redshirt sophomore Olivia Grey improved to 13-1 in the circle.

After Montana got on the board first in game one, Shea Garcia tied things up with a sacrifice fly to score Emily Johansen.

The game remained knotted at one until Paetynn Lopez sent a leadoff shot over the left-center wall to put the Vikings ahead in the top of the sixth. Montana tied it with a leadoff home run of its own in the bottom of the inning. 

In the seventh frame, Grey took care of business, shutting down the Montana offense to send the game to extra innings. After a scoreless eighth inning, Riggenbach ended the drought with a solo shot to give Portland State the lead. 

The one-run advantage was all Grey needed to secure the win as she retired the side in the bottom of the ninth. 

Riggenbach went a team-best 3-for-4 at the dish. Grey fanned 13 batters and recorded zero walks in the win.

Annie Lemos got the start on the rubber in game two, picking up the first conference victory of her career after holding the Grizzlies scoreless through four innings.

Riggenbach's hot bat struck first, giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead in the second before an RBI triple from Lopez extended the Viking's lead in the fifth. The Grizzlies brought two across in their half of the inning to pull themselves within one. 

Knocking her fifth hit of the day, Riggenbach pushed the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. 

Montana didn't go without a fight, adding one in the final frame while putting the tying run on second to force a pitching change. Grey replaced Allicitie Frost in the circle before retiring the final two batters to clinch the 4-3 win.

The Vikings out-hit the Grizzlies 8-7, as Mariah Rodriguez, Alexa Cepeda, and Riggenbach each tallied a team-high two hits in the contest. 

Portland State will look to complete the sweep on Sunday in the series finale slated for 11 a.m. PT.