CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah softball team came up empty-handed on Friday, dropping both games of a doubleheader on the road to Portland State.

Game One:

Portland State ace and arguably one of the best pitchers in the country, Olivia Grey, started in the circle for the Vikings in the first contest of the day. After a leadoff strikeout, Jayne Sepulveda earned a one-out walk to give SUU a baserunner in the top of the first. 

A fielder's choice in the next at-bat put two away, and Reilly Williams followed by lining out to shortstop, ending the half-inning.

Keimon Winston started on the mound for the T-Birds, and Portland State was able to produce two runs on two hits in their first attempt at the plate.

After an SUU three up, three down in the top of the second, the Vikings added to their lead by tallying two more runs in their second at-bat, taking a 4-0 lead.

Portland State kept it going in the bottom of the third, collecting six hits and six runs to make it 10-0 heading into the fourth.

Sepulveda crushed a leadoff double to start the top of the fourth frame, giving SUU a runner in scoring position with no outs.

Makall Whetten followed by lacing a single to left field in the next at-bat, advancing Sepulveda to third, with Williams stepping up to the plate. 

Williams grounded out to first base, but Sepulveda scored in the process, giving Southern Utah their first run of the game.

A double play ended the inning two batters later, and Portland State went on to win the first contest, 10-1.

Game Two:

Southern Utah started off the game on offense but failed to produce any base runners in their first at-bat against PSU pitcher Allicitie Frost.

Payton Goodrich received the nod to start in the circle for SUU in the second game. Goodrich got off to a rocky start in the contest, allowing a double followed by a home run in the first two at-bats, allowing PSU to take an early 2-0 lead.

Reilly Williams earned a leadoff walk to start the top of the second, but two strikeouts and a fly ball ended the half-inning, with SUU failing to take advantage of the opportunity.

Goodrich settled in and found her rhythm in the second frame, forcing PSU into a three up, three down in the bottom half of the inning.

Portland State was able to tack on two more runs in their fourth at-bat on another two-run homer, taking a 4-0 lead entering the fifth inning.

After a leadoff flyout to begin the top of the fifth, Makenna Calderon laid down a bunt and beat the throw to earn a one-out single. She then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Thunderbirds.

Following a strikeout, Calderon stole third and then advanced home on an errant throw, trimming the Portland State lead to 4-1. 

Grace Owen took over for Goodrich in the top of the fifth and put on a dominant performance. Owen pitched two innings, allowing just one hit and zero runs as she held the Vikings in check.

The Thunderbirds were able to get a runner on base in the sixth and seventh innings; however, the team failed to do more than that, as they fell to PSU in Game Two, 4-1.

The two teams will meet again on the diamond tomorrow to close out the series. The game time for the series finale has been moved up to 10 AM MT due to weather conditions and will be played on Gordon Faber Field #4.

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