(Photo Courtesy of Portland State Athletics)
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Portland State softball team fell to No. 24 California, 8-3, Sunday afternoon in the Vikings’ final game at the 2014 Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Portland State held the lead early but a California five-run fourth inning did in the Vikings.
Freshman Shae Nelson continued her hot hitting going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Kayla Norrie added her first home run of the season in the loss.
“The offense, once again, did a good job for us today,” first-year head coach Barb Sherwood said following the game. “Unfortunately, we let a few things get away from us while we were on defense. I’m looking forward to getting back to practice to work on some things. I saw a lot of good things this weekend and we will continue to get better.”
Nelson led off the game with a single and was moved to second after Becca Bliss worked a full-count walk. Both Nelson and Bliss moved up 60-feet on an illegal pitch before Brittany Hendrickson drove in Nelson on a sacrifice fly to center field. Crysta Conn then drove in Bliss on a single to left center putting the Vikings up 2-0.
The Vikings have outscored opponents 6-2 in the first inning including two runs in the first inning of the last three games.
The Bears, tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the second and one more in the third. California took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-2.
Norrie hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning on a full-count to cut the Bears’ lead to 7-3. California added another run in the bottom of the fifth to go up by the final score of 8-3.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Meagan Hendrix picked up her first loss of the season falling to 2-1. She gave up four earned runs on three hits while walking three over 3 1/3 innings. Karyn Wright threw the final 2 2/3 innings giving up four earned on five hits while walking two and striking out four.
The game concluded the first week of action for the Vikings at the Kajikawa Classic, where they went 2-3. The Vikings continue play next week at the Easton Desert Classic hosted by UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev. They will take on Nevada, BYU, Hawai’i, Seattle, and Chattanooga at the Classic.
