Softball starts PCSC play on wrong side of doubleheader sweep

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Game one stats | Game two stats | NC season stats

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Northern Colorado softball ran into a pair of dominating pitching performances in its Pacific Coast Softball Conference debut Saturday at Portland State.

The Bears mustered just eight hits in two games against the Viks and reached third base just once in falling 1-0 and 4-0 in a doubleheader at Erv Lind Stadium.

Portland State (12-21) got complete-game performances from starters Anna Bertrand in the first game and Nichole Latham in the second game to get Northern Colorado off to an 0-2 start in its first games in NCAA Division I conference play.

The Bears (8-25) stranded seven runners in the pair of contests and struck out 14 times, including a season high-tying 12 times in first-game loss.

Jamie Juelfs (2-10) and Melisa Ryba (4-4) also went the distance for Northern Colorado.

Juelfs didn't allow an earned run in her six innings of work in the opener, while striking out four and walking just one. Ryba surrendered four runs (three earned) in her time in the circle in game two on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts.

Jessie Schoepflin hit her second double of the season in the game-one loss, and Kelli Henderson, Jessica McNabb and Ryba added singles to account for the Bears' only offense. Kailee Vessey led all batters in game two with a 3-for-3 performance, and Ryba added a single.