HILLSBORO, Ore. - The Portland State softball team found itself trailing 8-0 heading into the fourth inning on Wednesday, but rallied with six runs over the final four frames before ultimately falling 8-6 to Rutgers at Hillsboro Stadium.

The loss drops the Vikings to 4-24, while Rutgers improves to 16-17.

Portland State strung together six hits, including two home runs, despite entering the game with only four home runs on the season. Meanwhile, The Vikings' pitching staff saw appearances from three different pitchers, with Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung doing the bulk of the work. She tossed 4.2 innings, allowed zero earned runs and recorded five strikeouts while also contributing a two-run home run at the plate.

Despite totaling eight runs, the Scarlet Knights only scored in two of their seven at-bats. They took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before exploding for seven runs in the top of the third, threatening to end the game early via run rule. However, the Vikings had other plans, as they scored three runs on consecutive walks to cut the deficit to 8-3 in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, Ali Harris hit a solo home run to left field, her second in as many games, to make it 8-4. Then, in the last at-bat, the Vikings made one final push, as Natalia Martinez led off the inning with a double. Nakoa-Chung followed with her first career home run, a shot over the right-field fence, narrowing the gap to just two runs. However, the Scarlet Knights tightened up and held on for the 8-6 victory.

The Vikings finished with six hits to the Scarlet Knights' seven, with six different players contributing to the hit total. Nakoa-Chung, in her 4.2 innings of work, allowed just two hits.

Portland State will continue its homestand this weekend as they welcome the University of the Pacific (CA) to town for a three-game series beginning Saturday, March 22 at Hillsboro Stadium (12pm).