SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Portland State softball team was one win away from clinching its second-straight conference series but fell short on Saturday, dropping the series rubber match to Sacramento State, 4-0.

The Vikings fell to 19-13 overall and 3-3 in Big Sky play, while the Hornets improved to 20-15 and 4-2 in conference action.

Facing Olivia Grey for the second time this weekend, Sacramento State went to work in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs to take an early lead. They struck again in the home half of the fourth, extending their lead to 3-0.  

Grace Johnson and Olivia Dean led off the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles, but the Vikings couldn't capitalize. The Hornets tacked on one more in their final at-bat as they headed into the top of the seventh, holding a 4-0 lead.

Natalia Martinez lit a spark for Portland State's offense with a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but the Hornets buckled down, putting away the final two batters to secure the victory.

Grey took the loss for PSU, tossing five innings and giving up six hits. Marisol Gaona relieved Grey in the sixth, recording three-straight outs for the Vikings.

Sacramento State's Marissa Bertuccio held the Vikings to four hits; two of those came from Dean.  

Next weekend, the Vikings will return home for a three-game slate against Northern Colorado. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, April 8 (1 p.m.), followed by a single game on Saturday, April 9 (noon) at Gordon Faber Field 4.