HONOLULU, Hawaii– The Portland State softball team capped its Hawai'i trip with a bang, winning both games of its weekend-finale doubleheader Saturday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Vikings (6-9) trailed in both games but battled back for consecutive victories, beating Mercyhurst (1-7) 10-3 before topping Hawai'i (7-10) for the first time since 2016.

Portland State trailed the Lakers 3-0 heading into the third inning, but Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung gave PSU a spark with an RBI single that plated Jolee Benson and cut the deficit to 3-1. The Vikings then exploded in the fifth, scoring seven runs on nine hits to run away with a 10-3 victory.

PSU built on that momentum in the weekend finale, seeking revenge for its extra-inning loss to Hawai'i on Friday. Benson put the Vikings on the board with an RBI single that scored Nakoa-Chung for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Hawai'i answered with runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-1 advantage, but Mia Martinez tied the game in the fifth with a two-run home run.

The Rainbow Wahine regained the lead in the sixth, 4-3. Needing a run in the top of the seventh to extend the game, Martinez delivered again, ripping a two-out, two-RBI double to give Portland State a 5-4 lead. Freshman starter Giselle Pantoja shut down the 'Bows in the final frame to secure the doubleheader sweep.

Pantoja earned her first collegiate complete game, allowing seven hits over seven full innings while striking out four.

As it against Mercyhurst, Portland State out-hit Hawai'i, recording eight hits in the win. Martinez led the way with two hits, while Grace Johnson paced the Vikings in Game one with a 4-for-4 performance — a career high for the senior leadoff hitter. The Vikings notched a season-high 13 hits against the Lakers. 

Portland State will look to build on the back-to-back victories next week when they travel to Boise, Idaho, for five games at the Blue Collar Classic (March 5-7).