Portland State University’s softball team began the Blue Collar Classic in Boise, Idaho, with a split performance on Thursday. The Vikings secured a 7-3 victory over Cal Baptist before falling 8-1 to host Boise State at Dona Larsen Park.
In the first game, Portland State (now 7-10) overcame an early deficit against Cal Baptist (18-6), which entered the tournament with 17 wins, including several against Power Four teams. After giving up a run in the top of the second inning, the Vikings responded with five runs in their half of the frame. Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung and Jolee Benson led off with singles, followed by Alison Harris driving in Nakoa-Chung to tie the score. Grace Johnson loaded the bases for Breanna Lutz, who hit a grand slam—Portland State’s first since 2023—to give her team a four-run lead.
Cal Baptist narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the third inning on Makayla Medellin’s two-run home run. However, Nakoa-Chung regained control as pitcher and held Cal Baptist scoreless for the remainder of the game. Portland State added insurance runs: Nichole Orozco had an RBI single in the fourth inning and Mia Martinez hit a solo home run in the sixth.
The Lancers threatened again by loading the bases with one out in their final at-bat, but Nakoa-Chung recorded consecutive strikeouts to end any comeback hopes.
Nakoa-Chung improved her season record to 3-3 after pitching all seven innings. She allowed three runs on ten hits while striking out eight batters—a season high—and walking only one. Offensively, Lutz, Harris, Johnson and Benson each contributed two hits as Portland State collected eleven hits overall.
In their second game of the day against Boise State, Portland State was unable to extend its win streak. The Broncos took an early lead and built it to 5-0 after two innings. Although Portland State managed base runners consistently—getting their leadoff hitter aboard in five of seven innings—Boise State erased three threats with double plays.
Johnson scored Portland State’s only run by beating out an infield single that brought Benson home from third base during the fifth inning. Boise State then added three more runs in the sixth before closing out an 8-1 win.
Gracie Walters pitched her fourth complete game this season for Portland State but saw her record fall to 2-3. The Vikings totaled six hits; Johnson and Martinez accounted for four at the top of their lineup.
Johnson finished Thursday going four-for-eight across both games and extended her hitting streak to nine games while reaching base safely for seventeen straight contests. Her .423 batting average ranks third among Big Sky Conference players as of Thursday evening.
Portland State is scheduled to continue play at Dona Larsen Park on Friday with games against St. Thomas and Boise State starting at 3:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. MT and 5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. MT respectively.
