PREVIEW
• Sacramento State (21-13, 2-1) will play its first Big Sky Conference home games when it hosts Portland State (15-18, 4-2) for a three-game series at Shea Stadium. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday at noon, followed by a Saturday game at noon.
• Last week, the Hornets traveled to Pocatello for a three-game series at Idaho State, but the field was deemed unpayable about 30 minutes before the opener. In fact, the whole series was postponed as heavy snow and rain from previous days left ISU's infield unsafe for play.
• As of now, there are no dates set for making up that three-game set. Per Big Sky rule, the teams don't need to make up that series. But the teams could elect to play the series if they can find suitable dates.
• The Hornets, who have not played since March 30 (2-1 series win at Northern Colorado), will now turn their attention to a Portland State squad that began the conference season with six straight home games. That includes a 3-0 series sweep vs. Idaho State, followed by 1-2 vs. Weber State.
• After two weeks of league play, Weber State sits atop the conference at 5-1, followed by Northern Colorado (4-2), Portland State (4-2), Hornets (2-1), Idaho State (0-3) and Montana (0-6).
• The Vikings are 1-10 when playing a true road game - lone win coming at Pacific (1-0 on Mar 21).
• The Hornets are 58-28 all-time vs. Portland State, and have won each of the last five meetings. That includes a three-game series sweep at Portland State last season. Since the Big Sky begin softball in 2013, the Hornets are 12-4 when playing the Vikings at home.
• Sacramento State will play just two Big Sky series at home (April 26-27 vs. Montana).
• The Hornets are currently the only team in the Big Sky with an overall record above .500. However, four teams sit at three games below or better - Weber State (17-17), Northern Colorado (19-19), Idaho State (18-20) and Portland State (15-18).
• The Hornets are a combined 107-63 in Big Sky Conference play during Lori Perez's head coaching tenure. That includes conference championships in 2018 and 2023.
• Sacramento State leads the Big Sky in batting average (.294), ERA (2.81) and fielding percentage (.969).  The Hornets' pitching staff has a 2.6-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio - 30th best in the nation.
• This week's series matches the two best pitching staffs in the Big Sky. Sacramento State's 2.81 ERA leads the conference, and Portland State is second at 3.38. The Hornets are allowing just 3.2 runs per game while opponents are batting .268. The Vikings are yielding 3.8 runs per game, and opponents are batting .273.
• Two Mondays ago, senior Marissa Bertuccio was named the Big Sky Pitcher of the Week for a conference-record 18th time of her career. The reigning two-time Big Sky Pitcher of the Year is currently 10-5 with a conference-leading 1.75 ERA.
• The Hornets have three pitchers ranked among the conference's top 10 in ERA while Portland State has two pitchers. Caroline Evans (9th, 3.31) and Savannah Wahl (10th, 3.48) join Bertuccio in the top 10, while the Vikings boast Grace Kimball (6th, 3.21) and Allicitie Frost (7th, 3.27).
• Right fielder Haley Hanson is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak, the longest of the season by a Hornet. She is also 16-for-17 in stolen base opportunities, and is tied with Nene Alas (2016) for most by a Hornet in the single-season Div. I era. In addition, her 39 career stolen bases are one shy of the Hornet Div. I era record of 40, held by Hilary Johnson (2005-08).
• Left fielder Alexis Parish is hitting a Big Sky-best .430, and is attempting to become just the fifth Hornet at the Div. I level (1990-pres.) to hit .400 in a season. And first since Sasha Margulies in 2015. The Div. I era single-season record is .434, set by All-American Lindy Winkler in 2006. Parish's .430 batting average is 36th in the country.
• During this season, senior third baseman Lewa Day has become the first Hornet with 50 career homer runs, and the program's all-time leader in runs scored (141) and RBIs (164).
• Shortstop Gwen Ludwig has four multi-hit games in the last seven contests. Her .353 batting average ranks third on the team.