OGDEN, Utah - The Portland State softball team used 12 hits, including three home runs to surge past Weber State 12-8 in the series opener on Friday, April 7 at the Wildcat Softball Field. The Vikings improved to 12-17 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Wildcats dropped to 6-21 and 0-1 in Big Sky action. 

Friday was a back-and-forth offensive battle, as the teams combined for 20 runs over the seven-inning, 3.5-hour contest.

Portland State was the first to score, doing so in the first inning following three walks. The Weber State offense responded in the home half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead. Bailee Noland tied it for the Vikings in the top of the second with a two-out RBI single to right field. The Wildcats took the lead once again in the bottom of the second, using a sacrifice fly to go ahead 3-2.

Portland State put together its biggest inning of the day in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman Trinity Holden. A series of RBI from Olivia Dean, Emily Johansen and Noland finished the rally for the Vikings en route to a four-run lead. Weber State continued to chip away at that lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-5.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Natalia Martinez added to the Vikings' total with a solo home run. In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats pulled within one at 9-8.

The Vikings rallied with two outs once again in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs off a Weber State error and a two-run shot from Paetynn Lopez to make it 12-8.

After six consecutive frames with at least one run scored, neither team scored in the final innings as Portland State secured the series-opening victory.

The Vikings out-hit the Wildcats 12-10 on the day, with four players recording multi-hit games. Although Weber State faced three different pitchers, it was PSU starter Olivia Grey who earned the win, improving to 7-4 on the season. Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung finished things off for the Vikings after entering the game in the bottom of the fifth. The freshman right-hander held the defending Big Sky Champions scoreless in her 2.2 innings of work.

Portland State will have the opportunity to clinch the series tomorrow (Saturday, April 8) in a doubleheader at Wildcat Softball Field beginning at 12 p.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. MT.