CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The Portland State softball team struggled on day two of action at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, dropping a pair of games to San Diego and Utah Valley at the Big League Dreams Sports Complex on Saturday. The Vikings head into the final day of the tournament with a 4-9 record. After beating the Vikings, USD improved to 3-12 while UVU jumped to 4-9.
Runs were hard to come by for Portland State's offense in both games as the Vikings were held to just nine hits on the day. The majority of those hits came in game one when they recorded seven against the Toreros.
After taking an early 1-0 lead in its first at-bat of the game, USD extended its lead to 6-0 in the second. The Toreros blew things open in the top of the third, scoring five runs on their way to a 12-1 run-rule win. The Vikings' only run came in the bottom of the third thanks to a Torero error.
San Diego saw three Portland State pitchers over five innings. Viking starter Bailey Rose recorded the loss, falling to 0-2 on the year. Bailee Noland and Logan Riggenbach each finished with two hits.
Playing under the lights in game two, the Vikings failed to bounce back against Utah Valley. The Wolverines took an early lead before a six-run, four-hit inning in the top of the sixth ended the game early at 12-2.
A solo shot from Noland put the Vikings on the board in the bottom of the fourth. PSU's second run of the game was the result of a Wolverine error in the sixth inning. Â
Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung tossed four innings, taking the loss in the circle and dropping to 0-3 this season. Noland and Emily Johansen recorded the Vikings' only two hits in the nightcap.
PSU will get one more chance to redeem itself tomorrow when they close out the tournament against LMU at 11:30 a.m.
