HILLSBORO, Ore. – Portland State softball used a season-high 13 hits and a complete-game effort in the circle from Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung to roll past Weber State, 9-1, Saturday afternoon at Hillsboro Ballpark.
The Vikings (12-26, 2-7) scored runs in five of six innings and capitalized on five Weber State errors to secure the run-rule victory, while holding the Wildcats (13-32, 4-5) to just one run on seven hits.
Looking for a spark after dropping Friday's doubleheader, the Vikings struck first in Saturday's series finale, scoring on an error in the bottom of the first inning. They extended their lead in the second when Breanna Lutz delivered a two-RBI double to left center, pushing the advantage to 3-0.
Weber State answered with a run in the third on a sacrifice fly, but Portland State quickly responded in the bottom half when Rylee Gaustad drove in two runs with a single to right, stretching the lead to 5-1.
The Vikings continued to add to their lead, scoring once in the fifth before breaking things open in the sixth. Abigail Carsley knocked a two-RBI double to make it 7-1 before Nakoa-Chung ended the game with a two-out RBI double of her own to secure the win for PSU.
Carsley and Lutz led the Vikings with three hits each while Gaustad, Nakoa-Chung and Nichole Orozco also added multi-hit games.
Doing her job at the plate and in the circle, Nakoa-Chung improved to 7-9 on the year with her 11th complete game.
Portland State will continue its homestand this coming week, hosting Oregon State for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 14 (2:00 & 4:30pm) and Northern Colorado Friday and Saturday (April 17-18).
