Softball preview

What: Portland State (21-17, 4-0 PCSC) vs. Sacramento State (21-14, 3-1 PCSC)Where: Shea Stadium in Sacramento, Calif. When: Two doubleheaders, one starting noon Saturday and one at noon SundayOn the air: www.goviks.com (audio)

Key players:

Portland StateMandy Hill: 11-10, 2.90 ERA, 106 K, 50 BB, .249 BAAJackie Heide: .336, 4 HR, 17 RBIs, 14 BB, .950 OPS

Sacramento StateBrittani Clifford: 8-5, 2.43 ERA, 61 K, 33 BB, .207 BAAWhitney Loomis: .300, 7 HR, 28 RBIs, 9 BB, .906 OPS

Stars: Sacramento State brings huge bats in the form of Whitney Loomis, Izmena Cabrera and Jamie Schloredt. The three combine for 18 homers and 76 RBIs. Brittani Clifford and Kayla Meeks lead the Hornets’ pitching staff. Expect Vikings pitchers Mandy Hill and Nicole Latham to have their work cut out for them.

Just a taste: It is another huge four-game series for Portland State. If they can take three of four from hated rival Sacramento State, the Vikings could put themselves in the driver’s seat for the regular-season title. The Hornets have a 31-12 all-time record against PSU, but lost two of three games last year at Erv Lind Stadium. The Hornets hit .294 as a team, with 23 homers.

Senior Mandy Hill is coming off a dominant week that led to another PCSC Pitcher of the Week award. She batted .545 with a home run and eight RBIs and went 2-0 with a save against San Diego.