OGDEN, Utah – For the second consecutive year, the Portland State softball team fell one game shy of the Big Sky Championship game, ending its season with a 5-0 loss to Northern Colorado (24-21) in the semifinals. The Vikings (18-27) opened the day on a high note, knocking out Weber State (13-32) with a 7-1 defeat to advance to the semifinals. 
 

Game 1: No. 4 Portland State 7, No. 5 Weber State 1

Riding the momentum from yesterday's win, the Vikings came out hot in the opening game. After a scoreless first inning, Allicitie Frost and Natalia Martinez strung together a pair of RBI doubles to give Portland State a 2-0 lead in the second. An RBI groundout by Emily Johansen and a sacrifice fly from Paetynn Lopez extended the Vikings' lead to four in the third.    

Weber State scored its only run of the day in the top of the fourth, cutting PSU's lead down to three. Lopez came through again in the fifth inning, scoring Olivia Dean with an infield single to make it 5-1. Natalia Martinez finished the scoring for the Vikings' capping the offensive effort with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. 

Frost closed things down in the circle, holding the Wildcats scoreless in the final frame to clinch the 7-1 quarterfinal win. 

Viking starter Olivia Grey got the win in the circle, earning her 10th of the season. The right-hander held the Wildcats to five hits and one run through four innings before Frost closed out the final three. 

Despite scoring seven runs, the Vikings were out-hit 8-5 by the Wildcats. Martinez led the Vikings at the plate, knocking two hits and three RBI in the victory. 

Game 2: No. 3 Northern Colorado 5, No. 4 Portland State 0

Northern Colorado starter Isabelle DiNapoli pitched a complete game shutout against the Vikings, holding them to six hits in the contest. 

UNC scored two runs in the first, taking a lead they kept until the top of the seventh. In their final at-bat, the Bears added three insurance runs to put the Vikings down 5-0. Trinity Holden and Dean reached base for the Vikings in the final frame, but Northern Colorado shut down the threat to secure the win. 

Dean and Maddie Thompson led the Vikings with two hits each. Grey took the loss in the circle, giving up three earned runs in a complete game performance. The right-hander finished the weekend with 26 strikeouts, a tournament-high heading into the final day.