Softball preview

It is a big weekend for the Vikings, as they open up Pacific Coast Softball Conference play after clawing back to .500. Head coach Amy Hayes looks for her 200th win.

What: San Diego (13-22) at Portland State (17-17)Where: Erv Lind Stadium, Portland, Ore.When: Two doubleheaders, one starting noon Saturday and one at noon SundayOn the air: www.goviks.com (audio)

Pitching matchups:

Portland StateMandy Hill: 9-10, 2.95 ERA, 99 K, 48 BB, .257 BAANicole Latham: 6-6, 3.98 ERA, 71 K, 24 BB, .255 BAAMeghan Gendron: 2-0, 4.38 ERA, 10 K, 11 BB, .258 BAAJessi Even: 0-1, 18 ERA, 2 K, 4 BB, .607 BAA

San DiegoKristen Gensler: 4-2, 2.98 ERA, 11 K, 8 BB, .304 BAAJennifer Ellenbeck: 4-13, 4.42 ERA, 72 K, 46 BB, .279 BAAAlyssa Luna: 4-5, 7.97 ERA, 18 K, 36 BB, .350 BAAJessi Waers: 1-2, 8.24 ERA, 9 K, 7 BB, .341 BAA

Stars:San Diego has a thin pitching staff, with freshman Kristen Gensler and sophomore Jennifer Ellenbeck eating up most of the innings. Look for junior first baseman Lindsey Fleet and Ellenbeck to provide most of the offense. Fleet leads the team with 27 RBIs, and Ellenbeck has a team-high five homers. For the Vikings, senior pitcher and slugger Mandy Hill stars. The Vikings spread the offense out, with five players hitting better than .300.

At a glance:It is a big weekend for the Vikings, as they open up Pacific Coast Softball Conference play after clawing back to .500. Head coach Amy Hayes looks for her 200th win. She is 199-166, with stops at Boston University and Portland State. Hill is coming off being named PCSC player of the week after pitching a complete-game shutout over UC Davis on March 24. Hill struck out eight and had a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 1-0 win. Portland State also has a chance to protect its perfect 6-0 home mark with a sweep. The Vikings swept the Toreros in 2006, the last time the two teams met at Erv Lind.