The Portland State softball team lost two one-run games on March 14, falling 6-5 in extra innings to Loyola Marymount University and then dropping a 3-2 decision to Southern Utah at Smith Field in Los Angeles.
These results bring the Vikings’ record to 8-16. The team had early leads in both contests but was unable to hold on for victories.
In the first game against LMU, Portland State scored four runs in the opening inning. Grace Johnson started the rally with a bunt single and stolen base before Mia Martinez drove her home with a double. Nichole Orozco and Jolee Benson added runs batted in, while Sierra Llamas and Abigail Carsley contributed sacrifice flies. LMU responded with two runs in the second inning and tied the game in the seventh with a two-run home run. In extra innings, Orozco was placed on second base under international tiebreaker rules, eventually scoring after an error. However, LMU loaded the bases in their half of the eighth and secured victory with a sacrifice fly followed by an RBI single.
Johnson led Portland State’s offense with three hits in four at-bats. Freshman pitcher Giselle Pantoja threw seven and two-thirds innings, allowing only two runs through six innings and recording a career-high five strikeouts.
In the second game against Southern Utah, Carsley hit a two-out, two-run home run to give Portland State an early lead after Southern Utah scored first. The Thunderbirds tied it up in their half of the second inning and took a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Despite putting runners on base late in the game, Portland State could not score again as Southern Utah held on for the win.
Martinez and Carsley each had two hits for Portland State, which out-hit Southern Utah eight to six. Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung pitched six innings for Portland State, giving up six hits while striking out four batters.
Looking ahead, Portland State will return home for its opening weekend at Hillsboro Ballpark next week. The Vikings are scheduled to host North Dakota for a doubleheader on Friday, March 20, followed by a three-game series against the Broncos on Sunday and Monday (March 22-23). Admission is free for all fans.
