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The Vikings softball team picked up only 1 hit in a 12-0 loss to Rum River Conference foe Chisago Lakes last Thursday and lost two games at home Saturday before picking up its first win of the season April 26 against Mora.
Against Chisago, the lone hit came in the form of a single from junior Destiny Croes in the second inning.
Defensively, the Vikes allowed 9 unearned Wildcat runs.
The third inning put the game out of reach for North Branch, as Chisago capitalized on 4 errors and 2 walks to score 9 runs.
Senior Shannon OíHern pitched 2 and one-third innings for the Vikes, giving up 8 hits, 2 walks and striking out 1. Freshman Maggie Johnson finished off the game, giving up 4 hits in 2 and two-thirds innings.
ìWeíre still searching for the right combinations and some hits when we need them,î Head Coach Larry Brodin said.
The Vikings hosted Hermantown and Cloquet April 24 and were shutout 1-0, 8-0 by the two squads.
North Branch tallied only 4 hits in the two games combined. Senior Dottie Graff had 2 hits on the day while OíHern and freshman Megan Ranger had 1 each.
ìThe Hermantown game was our best defensive game so far,î Brodin said. ìWe were tested many times and kept playing solid. On offense it is really becoming a struggle to score runs. We havenít scored in 3 games now and you canít win if you donít score. There was improvement but we need more.î
The team went on to defeat Mora 10-2 Monday for its first win. Senior Anna Johnson pitched the complete game, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 5.
Graff and Anna Johnson started the game by reaching on errors in the first. Graff then scored on a single from OíHern. Johnson and OíHern then scored on a double from Ranger to give the Vikes a 3-0 lead.
The Mustangs came up with 1 run in the third, but were answered by 2 Vikings runs in the fourth.
Senior Abby Fairbanks started the inning with a double. Paulson reached on an error and both came around to score in the inning for a 5-1 Vikings lead.
After Mora scored a run in the fourth, North Branch put it out of reach with 5 runs on 6 hits in the sixth inning.
Fairbanks doubled to start things off. The hit was followed by singles from junior Laura Hubbard, Graff, Anna Johnson, OíHern and a triple from Maggie Johnson. It would be all the Vikings needed on the way to a 10-2 victory.
Fairbanks had 2 doubles and 2 RBI in the game. OíHern also had 2 hits and 2 RBI.
Defensively, North Branch had only 2 errors in the game.
ìIt was great to see the team put it together on both sides,î Brodin said. ìWe were getting close but it finally clicked. Maybe we can keep it going now.î
The Vikes are 1-6 on the season. This week, the team hosted Pine City Tuesday and rounds out the week with a doubleheader at Zimmerman Thursday, April 29. The squad will also take part in a tournament at Sauk Rapids Saturday, May 1.
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