Portland State University’s softball team ended the second day of the Littlewood Invitational with a split record, losing to Nevada but rebounding with a win against Pacific at Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
In their first game of the day, Portland State (3-6) faced Nevada (3-2). The Wolf Pack scored early and often, bringing in runs during four out of six innings. After falling behind 2-0 in the opening frames, the Vikings narrowed the gap when Nichole Orozco drove in Mia Martinez to make it 2-1 in the third inning. However, Nevada responded with three more runs in the bottom half of that inning and maintained control for a 6-1 victory.
The Vikings found more success in their second game against Pacific (1-6). Portland State started strong by capitalizing on an error and getting back-to-back RBI hits from Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung and Jolee Benson to take a 3-0 lead. Although Pacific hit a two-run home run in their half of the first inning, they were limited to just three more hits for the rest of the contest.
Gracie Walters delivered a complete-game performance for Portland State, allowing only four hits while striking out three and walking one batter. “She finished with three strikeouts and just one walk.” The Vikings’ offense added runs over several innings. A sacrifice fly from Martinez increased their lead in the second inning, followed by an RBI single from Grace Johnson in the third and additional runs on plays by Benson and Gracie Toney in the fourth.
Portland State collected 10 hits against Pacific, including two each from Nakoa-Chung, Benson, and Breanna Lutz. In contrast, they managed only three hits—two from Martinez and one from Rylee Gaustad—in their earlier loss to Nevada.
The Vikings will finish their appearance at the Littlewood Invitational with a game against No. 22 Arizona State on Saturday at Farrington Softball Stadium.
