Portland State University Women’s Softball

The Portland State Women’s Softball program started about 1963 under the direction of Dr. Linda Neklason, a Health and Physical Education Professor, until about 1969 when Marlene Piper took over. At that time, there were few other colleges and universities offering the sport, so there was a limited playing schedule until the early seventies.

The team spent many of their early years practicing at Westmoreland Park, Normandale Park, and even many days at the St. Philip Neri Church blacktop! They finally got a permanent practice and home game venue at Erv Lind Stadium in 2000 where they still continue to practice and play.

The women’s softball team elevated their profile in 1978, Teri Mariani’s second year of coaching, when they qualified for their first trip to the national tournament, a feat they accomplished in four of the next five years. In 1982, their final year before women’s sports joined the NCAA, the Vikings were eliminated from the national tournament in a 21-inning marathon game, losing 0-1 to Eastern Illinois. The Vikings returned to the NCAA national tournament beginning in 1990. In 1991 the Vikings were ranked number one for five weeks and completed the season with a third place finish at nationals, eliminated on a 16 and 9 inning game.

Over the years of the Portland State Women’s Softball program, the Vikings did not have a conference to compete in until 2000 when they became members of the Western Athletic Conference. In 2003, they joined the Pacific Coast Softball Conference in its inaugural season and won their first conference title in 2006.