BOISE, Idaho – The Portland State softball team faced St. Thomas for the second time this weekend at the Blue Collar Classic, looking to bounce back against an earlier loss to the Tommies, but fell 10-3 in Saturday's weekend finale at Dona Larsen Park.
The Vikings (8-12) put together a strong weekend at the plate, highlighted by their first win over Boise State since 2015 on Friday, but couldn't carry that momentum into their finale against the Tommies (17-6), managing just two hits in the loss. Though, one of those hits was a three-run home run by Abigail Carsley to give the Vikings a lead in the fourth inning, one they were unable to hold onto.
St. Thomas struck first with a solo home run in the second. Carsley answered in the bottom of the fourth, driving a two-out, three-run shot that scored Jolee Benson and Nichole Orozco to put the Vikings in front, 3-1. The Tommies responded immediately in the fifth, tying the game with a pair of solo home runs. They took control in the sixth with three runs on three hits, then added four more in the seventh to secure the 10-3 win.
Anna Jardin made her first start of the weekend, throwing five innings—including three scoreless—before Portland State turned to the bullpen in the sixth. Three additional Vikings saw time in the circle.
Orozco, who led the Vikings with a .357 average over the weekend, recorded the team's only hit outside of Carsley's home run. Portland State hit a season-high five home runs across five games in Boise.
The Vikings will wrap up non-conference road play next weekend in Los Angeles at the LMU Invite (March 13-14) before returning home for their home opener on March 20.
