CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The Portland State softball team dropped its first game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in eight innings to UC San Diego 6-5 on Friday at the Big League Dreams Sports Complex. The Vikings fell to 4-7 overall, while the Tritons improved to 7-5. 

Maddie Thompson set the tone early for the Vikings, ripping a leadoff triple down the left-field line in the first at-bat of the game. Emily Johansen was quick to bring Thompson in, knocking an RBI single the very next play. Portland State found itself with the bases loaded and no outs following a catcher's interference and a single from Paetynn Lopez. Displaying patience at the plate, the Vikings capitalized on the opportunity, drawing a pair of walks to extend their lead to three. 

After escaping the bases-loaded jam, UCSD roared back with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to cut the Vikings' lead to one. An inning later, the Tritons used a sacrifice fly to tie the game at three, before an RBI single gave them their first lead of the day. 

Olivia Dean continued the back-and-forth, knotting the game at four with a two-out RBI single to score Trinity Holden in the third. 

As pitching and defense settled in, the score remained unchanged until extra innings. Playing an international tiebreaker, the Vikings began the top of the eighth with Lopez on second base. Ellie Babbitt delivered, ripping an RBI single to score Lopez and give PSU the lead. 

Once again, UCSD answered. Following a game-tying RBI double, Marissa Hassis won it for the Tritons with a walk-off single. 

Despite allowing just one earned run, Olivia Grey took the loss in the circle, falling to 4-3 on the year. The Vikings tallied seven hits as Babbitt lead the way with a pair of hits and a team-high two RBI. 

The weekend is just getting started for the Vikings as three games remain on their schedule this weekend. They'll return to action tomorrow in a doubleheader against San Diego (2:30 pm) and Utah Valley (5:30 pm).