SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Allicitie Frost and Grace Kimball's strong performances in the circle led the Portland State softball team to a series-opening split against Sacramento State on Friday afternoon, limiting the Hornets to just six hits in the doubleheader. The Vikings fell 2-1 in the opener before responding with a solid 5-0 victory in game two at Shea Stadium.

The Vikings jumped to 16-19 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Hornets will enter Saturday's rubber match at 22-14 and 3-2 in Big Sky play.

Both Frost and Kimball tossed complete games for PSU, tallying 12 shutout innings out of 13 pitched while striking out nine batters collectively. Kimball's win in game two marked her 10th victory of the year and fourth complete-game shutout.

Friday's opener unfolded as a pitcher's duel, with both Frost and Sacramento State's Marrisa Bertuccio limiting their opponents to just three hits each. The Hornets scored their only two runs of the day in their very first at-bat, only to be held scoreless for the rest of the afternoon.

Sacramento State's Lewa Day was responsible for the Hornets' early lead, delivering a two-run home run against Frost in the bottom of the first inning. Frost buckled down after that, allowing just one hit for the remainder of her complete-game outing. A clutch two-out RBI single by Alapese Matautia in the top of the fifth inning pulled the Vikings within one run. However, the Hornets shut them down in the final two at-bats to secure the 2-1 win.

Portland State used a big second inning to take control of game two. Maddie Thompson and Emily Johansen began a two-out rally with consecutive RBI singles, before Lorraine Alo capped it off with a two-RBI double to left center, propelling the Vikings to a 4-0 lead. Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the sixth when Johansen drove in Thompson to extend the Vikings' lead to five.

The Hornets positioned themselves for a comeback, loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Kimball remained composed, retiring three consecutive batters to secure the shutout.

The Vikings tallied 16 hits on the day, 13 of those in game two. Grace Johnson and Alo led the way with three hits each in the nightcap. Both Alo and Johansen finished the day with a team-high two RBI.

The teams will face off in a crucial game three tomorrow to decide the series. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Shea Stadium.