PORTLAND, Ore. - A year after posting the program's winningest record since 2011, the Portland State softball team is poised for another successful season in 2023. The Vikings' experience will drive them this season, as they return a core group that led them to 28 wins a season ago.

Portland State's season will begin next weekend, Feb 10-12 at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. The Vikings will kick off their 2023 campaign against Colgate on Friday, Feb. 10, followed by games against Marshall, Minnesota, Butler and Michigan to close out opening weekend. 

COACHING STAFF

2023 marks Meadow McWhorter's seventh season leading the Portland State softball program. Compiling 96 wins in her first six seasons, she's just four wins shy of the 100-win mark. McWhorter will have some familiar faces returning to her staff, seventh-year assistant Kellie Wilkerson and second-year volunteer assistant Maddy Newkirk. New to the program is Assistant coach Meghan Romero, who joined McWhorter's staff in the Summer of 2022. Romero is a 2019 graduate of Colgate University, where she was a four-year letter winner and first tem all-conference selection in 2019. Prior to coming to Portland, Romero spent three seasons as an assistant at Colgate.

2023 SCHEDULE

The Vikings' 2023 schedule consists of 44 regular season contests, four non-conference tournaments, 15 Big Sky matchups and 13 home games at Gordon Faber Field. The Vikings will open the season with four-straight road tournaments, playing 20 games over 24 days. Among those 24 games, four will be against teams ranked in the NFCA Preseason Top 25. The Vikings will open their Big Sky schedule at home on Saturday, April 1-2 against Montana. The regular-season slate will come to a close on April 28-29 at Northern Colorado. The Big Sky Championship tournament will take place from May 10-13 in Ogden, Utah.

IN THE CIRCLE

Anchored by one of the top pitchers in the region in Olivia Grey, Portland State's pitching staff is in good hands. A First Team All-Big Sky selection and Second Team NFCA All-Pacific Region honoree in 2022, Grey enters her redshirt junior season with big expectations. The Woodland, Wash. native finished last year with the program's second-highest single-season win percentage, going 18-8 (.692) in 34 appearances. Holding opponents to a .203 average, Grey posted a 2.13 ERA, leading the Big Sky in strikeouts with 214, which ranked 31st in the nation.

Returning for her third season in the circle is junior Allicitie Frost. Frost appeared in 19 games for the Vikings last season. In 12 starts, the Redmond, Ore. native compiled an 8-5 record with 37 strikeouts. 

After taking a medical redshirt last season, redshirt sophomore Bailey Rose returns to the circle after appearing in 13 games and starting four as a freshman in 2021. 

Also in the starting rotation will be sophomore Annie Lemos. Lemos made 12 appearances in the circle as a freshman last season, starting seven games and posting a 2-4 record. 

Senior Marisol Gaona returns for her fourth and final season with the Vikings. The Lynwood, Calif. native appeared in 12 games last year, eleven of those in relief. 

The Vikings' pitching staff is rounded out by freshman right-hander Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung. The Waianae, Hawaii native will make her collegiate debut this year after winning a 2022 Hawaii State Championship at Maryknoll High School a year ago.

BEHIND THE PLATE

2022 First Team All-Big Sky catcher Paetynn Lopez returns for her third season behind the plate. A leader on defense and a threat offensively, Lopez brings power to the Vikings' lineup, hitting 8 home runs and 25 RBI a season ago.

Also competing for time at catcher is junior transfer Bailee Noland. The Hermiston, Ore. native was named Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-American in 2022 after an impressive sophomore season at Walla Walla Community College.

Rounding out the group of catchers is freshman Alison Harris. The Graham, Wash. native was a first team selection and four-year letterwinner at Graham Kapowsin High School.

INFIELD

An experienced middle infield will lead a strong Vikings' defense this season. Redshirt senior Olivia Dean, a 2022 Second Team All-Big Sky shortstop is a valuable asset offensively and defensively. Starting 43 games at shortstop in 2022, Dean hit .279 at the leadoff spot while leading the Big Sky with 20 stolen bases. Also adding speed to Portland State's lineup is second baseman Maddie Thompson. The 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big Sky selection enters her junior season with 64 starts under her belt, recording 28 hits a season ago. 

First baseman Emily Johansen enters her fourth season at PSU after a stellar ending to her junior season in 2022. After being named Honorable Mention All-Big Sky, Johansen exploded in postseason play, hitting .615 with eight RBI at the 2022 Big Sky Tournament. In a lineup known for its speed, Johansen will be the main power threat for the Vikings after leading the team with nine home runs and a .614 slugging percentage last year. Taking reps at third are junior Shea Garcia and sophomore Natalia Martinez. Garcia started 32 games in 2022, recording 17 hits and 11 RBI. Martinez spent time in the DH spot and at third base for the Vikings last year, recording three home runs and 17 RBI as a freshman.

OUTFIELD

The 2023 season holds high expectations for left fielder Logan Riggenbach following a breakout sophomore campaign. A First Team All-Big Sky selection and Third Team All-Pacific Region honoree, Riggenbach will bring consistency to PSU's lineup, after finishing 2022 with a team high .380 batting average and 41 RBI. Alexa Cepeda returns to PSU for her third season. A leader defensively in center field, Cepeda hit .291 a season ago, adding 30 hits and 15 RBI. Cepeda and Riggenbach combined for 121 putouts last season and a .984 fielding percentage. 

Looking to fill a spot in right field are sophomores Ellie Babbitt, Neveah Smith and freshmen Trinity Holden. Babbitt, an Albany, Ore. native saw limited playing time defensively in 2022, but tallied five hits, including one home run as a designated hitter for the Vikings. Smith is in her second season with the Vikings, seeing playing time primarily as a pinch runner in 2022, while recording three at bats and scoring five runs. Holden, a freshman catcher and outfielder out of Lebanon High School was named the 2022 OSAA 5A State Player of the Year a year ago and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Vikings this season.