Freshman infielder Brittany Hendrickson launched a solo home run in the fourth, and the Vikings added six runs over the final two innings to defeat Walla Walla Community College 13-7 in a nine-inning game at Erv Lind Field Saturday afternoon. The Vikings fall record now sits at 2-4 with one game remaining.
Freshman Raya Johnson started on the mound for the Vikings against Walla Walla, throwing five scoreless innings, including two straight perfect innings.
“[Johnson] is starting to get stronger in the circle and has improved every outing,” Vikings head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. “As a freshman that is exactly what we want to see.”
Hendrickson got the Vikings offense going in the second inning, drilling a leadoff double to right field. After advancing to third on a wild pitch by Warriors pitcher Dara Kosanke, Hendrickson was able to score after a towering sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore catcher Kayla Norrie.
“She is such a dynamic player and has the potential to be one of the strongest hitters in our lineup,” Echo-Hawk said of Hendrickson. “She just needs to continue to be confident at the plate.”
Norrie would later score on another sac fly by junior Alexa Morales to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Vikings third baseman Crysta Conn made a diving catch in foul territory on a failed bunt attempt by Walla Walla for the second out of the inning, killing a potential rally by the Warriors.
Johnson made quick work of Walla Walla in the fourth, throwing just seven pitches in an inning highlighted by another defensive gem, this time by centerfielder Sadie Lopez.
Senior Karmen Holladay came in to replace Johnson in the sixth inning, but struggled to get outs, allowing the Warriors to rally in a nightmare inning for the Vikings.
After an errant throw by Hendrickson allowed the first batter to reach base, Holladay would hit and walk the next two batters, respectively, to load the bases for Warriors third baseman Katie Martell.
Martell then laced a two-run single to right field to cut the Vikings lead in half.
After loading up the bases again, Halladay walked in a third run before giving up a RBI single just over the glove of Hendrickson, tying the game at four. Halladay would strikeout Alicia Baker with the bases loaded to end the inning and stop the threat.
Martell would come in to pitch for the Warriors in the bottom of the inning, and allowed the Vikings to take the lead back on an RBI groundout by Morales, followed by a two-out RBI double by junior Jordan Goschie to give the Vikings a 6-4 lead.
The lead would grow to 7-4 after Hendrickson smacked her third extra-base hit of the day, an RBI double to right, before being thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.
The Warriors would fight back in the top of the eighth inning, tacking on a two-run double to cut the Vikings’ lead back down to one. The inning was marred by two fielding errors by the Vikings’ Conn at shortstop.
The Vikings ended all doubt in the bottom half however, adding six runs to give them a seven-run cushion heading into the final frame.
Walla Walla added a consolation run in the ninth to finish the scoring. The 13 runs by the Vikings was their most in a single game this fall, topping the 12 runs they scored against Concordia on Oct. 1.
“We have a lot of skilled players, but the key is making sure we work together as a unit,” Echo-Hawk said. “We have a couple of months to focus on our weakness and improve so we can be successful in the spring.”
The Vikings final scheduled game of the fall league will be against the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars at 6 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Erv Lind Stadium.