The Portland State softball team lost both games of a doubleheader on March 13 at Smith Field in Los Angeles, falling 5-1 to Loyola Marymount University and 7-4 to Southern Utah. The Vikings’ record moved to 8-14 for the season, while LMU improved to 18-9 and Southern Utah advanced to 12-15.
These results are significant as they reflect the team’s ongoing efforts in non-conference play and set the stage for their remaining tournament games. The outcomes also highlight areas for improvement as the Vikings continue their season.
In the first game against LMU, Portland State kept the contest close early. After LMU scored in the second inning, Jacobi Coombs led off with a single in the third and later scored on Nichole Orozco’s two-out RBI single up the middle, tying the game at one run each. However, LMU responded with runs in subsequent innings and added an insurance run in the sixth to secure their win. Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung pitched a complete game for Portland State—her sixth of the season—while five different Vikings recorded hits.
During game two against Southern Utah, Portland State took an early lead after Grace Johnson singled and scored on Mia Martinez’s RBI hit. Additional runs came from passed balls and a sacrifice fly by Johnson, giving PSU a 3-1 advantage. Sierra Llamas extended that lead with a solo home run in the third inning. Southern Utah tied it up in the sixth before taking advantage of Viking errors in the seventh to claim victory. Johnson, Alison Harris, and Llamas each had two hits for Portland State. Gracie Walters started as pitcher, allowing four runs over nearly six innings before Giselle Pantoja took over in relief.
Portland State is scheduled to play again Saturday, facing LMU at 10:00am followed by another matchup against Southern Utah at 12:30pm.
