The Vikings got on the bus for the three-plus hour ride to Grand Rapids last Thursday for the opening game of section play, and they were determined not to make the trip in vain.

The #7-seeded Vikings went into the game against the #2-seeded Thunderhawks having won only five games on the season. But the Vikings, behind a brilliant pitching performance by Tiffany Good, pulled off a 2-1 upset win and advanced to round two on Saturday, May 28 against Big Lake.

Good improved her ERA to 3.55, giving up only four hits, striking out two Grand Rapids batters and walking no one. She got error-free backup from the defense and just enough offense to put North Branch on top.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Dottie Graff doubled home Alyssa Peterson. Grand Rapids tied the game at 1 apiece in their half of the inning. In the sixth, Maggie Johnson singled with one out and Megan Ranger moved her to third with a single. Gabi Olson then grounded to score the winning run.

Going into Saturday's game, Big Lake had defeated the Vikings twice during the season. They made it a hat trick with a 2-0 shutout of North Branch, in spite of another great pitching performance by Good.

Big Lake took a 1-0 lead on one hit and two Viking errors in the first inning. Big Lake added another run in the fifth inning.
North Branch managed only three baserunners the entire game. Graff singled in the first, Ranger in the fourth and Heather Hovland in the fifth.

Good allowed five hits, struck out two and again did not walk any batters.
The Vikings end their season with a 6-14 overall record.

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