Coming off a second-place finish at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago, the PSU track and field squad is not done with the 2013 season just yet. Head coach Ronnye Harrison will be bringing a number of athletes to Austin, Texas, today to compete in the NCAA West Regionals. The meet runs through Saturday, with the top 12 in each event moving on to nationals next month in Eugene.
The Vikings softball squad watched their hopes of moving past the first round of the NCAA regional tournament collapse with a devastating 2-1 defeat at the hands of the University of Washington Huskies. The Vikings struggled at the plate against the Huskies’ starting pitcher and also had some difficulties defensively as they failed to advance in Seattle. The loss dropped Portland State into the consolation bracket for a meeting with the University of Minnesota, but the team fared even worse against the Gophers and fell 5-0, officially putting an end to the 2013 season.
The Portland State softball team capped off its tremendous run this season by rolling through the competition at the inaugural Big Sky tournament over the weekend, sweeping all three games to capture the conference championship and earn an automatic bid for the NCAA regional tournament.
The Portland State softball team went 2-1 against California State University, Sacramento, over the weekend, including a win in the final game on Senior Day.
The Portland State women’s water polo team has had a busy season, and they aren’t finished just yet. After winning the Northwest Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association, PSU is off to the National Collegiate Club Championship in Minneapolis this weekend. It’ll be the first time in club history they’ll compete at nationals, but the team has formed a strong bond this year and is ready for the challenge.
The Portland State softball team showed its fighting spirit over the weekend, hanging with Idaho State through three close games in Pocatello, but it was the Bengals who ultimately came away with the series victory. After the Vikings notched a win in the weekend’s first game, breaking a tie in the top of the eighth inning with a two-run single by Sadie Lopez, the Bengals came back with two extra-inning wins in a row. It was the first conference series loss this year for the Vikings, who now share the top spot in the Big Sky standings with Idaho State.
Portland State football is already preparing for the 2013 schedule as spring practices have begun for next season. The Vikings have announced that they will hold their annual spring game at Evergreen High School in Vancouver on May 18. The season will start up again in September with a matchup against the University of California, Berkeley, on the road. PSU’s first Big Sky meeting comes against the University of California, Davis, two games later, followed by a nationally televised game at home against California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, on Sept. 26. The Mustangs are coming off a year in which they went 9-3 in the regular season, earned a playoff berth and beat the Vikings 37-25 in their matchup last season.
The Portland State sailing club is one of the best-kept secrets on campus, but one that all PSU students and faculty can be a part of. Sailing offers a rush that few other campus clubs can match, and PSU has formed its own close-knit sailing community.
A Ram Choi grew up playing soccer, but her transition into golf during high school has served her well. Choi, who played at the University of Washington prior to transferring to Portland State in 2012, has welcomed the independence of the sport while also embracing the team component of what she calls her new family.
The Portland State softball team will break away from conference competition today for a doubleheader against the University of Oregon Ducks at Erv Lind Stadium. Oregon is currently ranked seventh in the nation and sits atop the Pac-12 Conference standings. The Vikings have been on a tear as of late, winning their last seven games in a row, including sweeps against Weber State University and the University of Northern Colorado. The streak has put PSU in firm command in the Big Sky.
The Vikings softball team scored a sweep for the second week in a row with three wins over the University of Northern Colorado Bears at home. Portland State improved to 15-21 overall this season and 8-1 in conference, establishing a firm hold on the top spot in the Big Sky. Highlights of the weekend were pitcher Anna Bertrand and left fielder Sadie Lopez, who both turned in tremendous performances. After a pair of dominant wins in Friday’s doubleheader, the Vikings fought until the final inning on Saturday to earn the sweep.