HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Portland State softball team topped Northern Colorado, 4-3 on senior day at Hillsboro Ballpark, locking in their first Big Sky series win of the season.
The Vikings (14-27, 4-8) totaled seven hits in the win while holding the Bears (20-23, 6-5) to five, with Nakoa-Chung going the distance in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts.
Portland State struck first in the opening inning as Grace Johnson came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from Abigail Carsley after reaching on a leadoff single. The Vikings added another in the third on a sacrifice fly from Mia Martinez to take a 2-1 lead.
Northern Colorado responded in the fourth, using a two-run home run from Baylie Kakallis to take its first lead of the game at 3-2.
The Vikings answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Rylee Gaustad and Jolee Benson reached to set the table before Carsley delivered again, driving in two runs with a single to give Portland State a 4-3 advantage.
From there, Nakoa-Chung settled in, retiring nine of the final 10 batters she faced, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the win.
Carsley led the Vikings offensively, finishing 2-for-2 with three RBIs.
The Vikings return to action next weekend to close out the regular season with a series at Sacramento State (April 24-25).
