Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State softball made its debut at Hillsboro Ballpark on Friday in fashion, opening the day with a 1-0 shutout win over North Dakota behind a no-hitter from Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung, before dropping the nightcap, 4-3.

The Vikings (9-17) and Fighting Hawks (20-11) found themselves in a pitcher's duel to open the afternoon. Nakoa-Chung got the start for PSU, looking for her eighth straight complete game—and she delivered. The sophomore recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts while tossing Portland State's first seven-inning no-hitter since 2012.

PSU's bats were limited to five hits in the win against North Dakota's Unity Nelson, who entered the weekend with seven victories. The Vikings put at least one runner on base in five innings but couldn't push a run across.

That changed in the bottom of the seventh.

Back-to-back pinch hitters sparked the rally, as Samiya Wright led off with a single up the middle, followed by Sofia Peato with a base hit to left to move the winning run into scoring position. Grace Johnson then finished it off, using her speed to rush a throw from third that sailed over the first baseman's head, allowing pinch runner Jacobi Coombs to score and secure the 1-0 victory for Portland State. 

Johnson notched her 10th multi-hit game of the season, leading the Vikings' offense with two hits in the win.

The Vikings managed just three hits in game two compared to North Dakota's 10. Despite the production, the Fighting Hawks struggled to capitalize, stranding 11 runners.

PSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Orozco brought Johnson home on an RBI fielder's choice. UND didn't answer until the sixth, then carried that momentum into a two-run rally in the seventh to take a 3-1 lead.

The Vikings had one last push. Sierra Llamas singled with one out to put a runner on, and Johnson again applied pressure, forcing an overthrow that allowed pinch runner Kainani Jacang to score. However, on the same play, Johnson tried to stretch that mistake into third base and was thrown out, sealing the 3-2 win for North Dakota.

Gracie Walters pitched six of the innings for Portland State before Nakoa-Chung took things over in the final frame.

Portland State will return to Hillsboro Ballpark on Sunday, March 22 to host Santa Clara for a doubleheader (12:00 & 2:30pm).