OGDEN, Utah – The Portland State softball team captured a 1-0 win over five-seed Idaho State in an elimination game on Thursday at Wildcat Softball Field, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Championship Tournament. 

The Vikings (27-17, 10-5) will take on No. 4 seed Northern Colorado on Friday at 11 am PT. The Bengals were eliminated from the tournament, as they finished the season 25-27 overall.

Portland State picked up its first win of the week behind a complete-game shutout from redshirt sophomore Olivia Grey, who allowed six hits and struck out four. 

Both offenses struggled to find their groove at the plate in the opening innings. Idaho State had an opportunity to break the tie in the bottom of the fourth, with two on and one out. Viking first baseman Emily Johansen denied their efforts, making a diving double play to get the Vikings out of the inning.

It was Johansen's bat that got the job done in the top of the fifth, as she singled home Alexa Cepeda to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. With Portland State clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, the Bengals applied the pressure, putting the tying run aboard. Another crucial double play, this one from Natalia Martinez, sealed the victory for the Vikings. 

Johansen, Martinez and Olivia Dean had Portland State's only hits of the day.

The Vikings will continue their climb up the loser's bracket tomorrow against No. 4 Northern Colorado in an elimination game at 11 am PT. The winner will advance to the semifinal game against No. 2 Sacramento State at 1:30 pm PT.