HILLSBORO, Ore. - The Portland State softball team scored in all but one inning on Tuesday, totaling 18 runs to secure back-to-back run-rule victories over Western Oregon at Hillsboro Stadium. The Vikings won the first game of the non-conference doubleheader 9-1 and completed the sweep with a 9-0 shutout in the nightcap.

With the victories, Portland State improved its overall record to 8-28, while Western Oregon dropped to 12-27.

The Vikings were dominant in all phases of the game, recording 16 hits across the two contests, culminating in a one-hit shutout by the pitching staff in the second game, while limiting the Wolves to just six hits in 10 innings.

 Portland State came out strong in the opening innings of game one, taking a 1-0 lead in the first before expanding it to 5-0 in the second. Lorraine Alo delivered the first RBI of the afternoon with a double to left field, scoring Neveah Smith. The Vikings added four more runs in the second thanks to a bases-loaded walk, an RBI from Alapese Matautia, a sacrifice fly by Natalia Martinez, and a two-out RBI single by Nichole Orozco.

The Vikings' lead grew to seven in the third inning when Alo hit another double to score Matautia and Smith. The Vikings then added two more runs in the fourth on RBIs from Ellie Babbitt and Jade Henry, pushing the score to 9-0. In the top of the fifth, Western Oregon managed to load the bases and score their lone run on an RBI single to right field, pulling within eight. However, Grace Kimball, who pitched all five innings of the opener, retired the final batter to seal the 9-1 run-rule victory.

Portland State's offense was on fire in the opening win, recording nine hits in just four innings, led by two hits each from Matautia and Alo. Kimball, who allowed just three hits through four innings, finished with five hits allowed while earning her third win of the season and striking out three batters.

Game two followed a similar script, as the Vikings continued their hot hitting and solid pitching. Gracie Walters and Anna Jardin combined for a shutout, limiting the Wolves to just one hit. Walters earned the win, pitching three hitless innings before Jardin closed out the game with two solid innings of relief.

The Vikings' offense again struck early. Grace Johnson led off the game with a triple, before Smith drove her in the very next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to left field. Babbitt followed with an RBI double, as did Kendall Nevin, who ripped a single to center field to score Orozco and put the Vikings' on top 4-0.

The Vikings' potent offense carried into the second inning, where they loaded the bases for Alo, who delivered a three-RBI triple down the right-field line, extending their lead to 7-0. They then added two more in the fourth, making it 9-0 off a pair of RBIs from Martinez and Babbitt to cap offf the scoring. Western Oregon threatened in its final at-bat in the top of the fifth, loading the bases, but Jardin got out of the jam, securing the one-hit shutout.

Portland State recorded seven hits in the second game, led by a 3-for-3 performance from Johnson and a 2-for-3 effort from Martinez. Walters and Jardin combined for five strikeouts, with Walters fanning four of them.

The Vikings will return to action this weekend as they shift their focus back to conference play. They'll welcome Sacramento State for a doubleheader on Friday, April 4, at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., followed by a single game on Saturday, April 5, at 1:00 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium.