PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Portland State softball team dropped both games on the opening day of the ASU/GCU Classic, falling to New Mexico State 8-3 and Grand Canyon 9-0 at GCU Softball Stadium on Friday.

The losses moved the Vikings to 3-9 on the season, while the Aggies improved to 9-5 and Grand Canyon to 11-2.

The Vikings managed just four hits across both games, three of which came in Friday's opener against New Mexico State. The Aggies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and extended their advantage with runs in the third and fourth, making it 5-0. Portland State broke through in the fifth when Samiya Wright, who led the Vikings with a 2-for-2 performance, singled home fellow freshman Rylee Gaustad to put PSU on the board. An Aggie error allowed two more runs to score, cutting the deficit to 5-3. However, a three-run homer by NMSU in the sixth sealed the game, as the Aggies took an 8-3 lead and held the Vikings scoreless the rest of the way.

GCU set the tone early in game two, scoring five runs in the first inning, three more in the third, and another in the fourth to build a 9-0 lead. Meanwhile, they held Portland State to just one hit, a single from Lorraine Alo in the fourth. The Vikings went down in order in their final at-bat, sealing the run-rule win for the Lopes.

The Vikings are back in action tomorrow in Tempe, Ariz., facing Iowa State at 12:15 p.m. PT / 1:15 p.m. MT and Arizona State at 3:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. MT at Farrington Softball Stadium.