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Princeton 11

North Branch 8

If the Vikings were plagued by one thing last year it was defense. Just ask head coach Larry Brodin how many wins it cost them. If you do, chances are he’ll probably throw last Thursday’s loss versus Princeton into the mix as well. Despite leading 8-7 at one point, three Viking errors late led to four Tiger runs in the seventh inning as North Branch fell to 0-1 on the season with a 11-7 loss.

Early on it was all Princeton. The Tigers scored the game’s first four runs. All four came in the second inning thanks to four Tiger hits and two North Branch errors.

However, the Vikings answered right back in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. Maggie Johnson picked up the only hit in the inning for North Branch. Aside from that, the Vikings did their damage by not swinging, walking four times in the inning. That made the score 4-3 after three.

It took less than half an inning for Princeton to build on their lead once again, scoring three more runs in the top of the fourth, pushing their lead back to 7-3.

But that lead was about to disappear. Batting in the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings got one run back after Gabi Olson scored on a walk. Then in the sixth, more runs, as North Branch struck for four more, moving in front for the first time in the game.

In all, the Vikings sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth, getting hits from Steph Saxe, Megan Ranger, Danny Sonnenfeld and Randy Zentner. Ranger and Sonnenfeld each picked up RBI’s as North Branch charged in front 8-7 heading into the top of the seventh.

It was a rough seventh inning. After surrendering four runs in the bottom half of the sixth, Princeton’s offense made amends by scoring four runs in the seventh on just two hits and three North Branch errors. Both hits were singles.

Trailing 11-8, North Branch went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh, putting an end to the game. With the loss, the Vikings fall to 0-1 on the season.

“This was one we could have won,” said Brodin, North Branch head softball coach. “We just gave them too many extra outs in the game. It was a place to start and we will improve, we’re still searching for the right combination in the field. The pitching was okay and we were aggressive at the plate so we can go from there.”

Johnson started the game for the Vikings on the mound, working just shy of four innings, allowing five runs on five hits. Only two of those runs were earned. Saxe finished the game on the mound for the Vikings, allowing five hits and six runs- only one earned run.

At the plate, Johnson and Sonnenfeld each had two hits. Johnson and Ranger each scored two runs. As a team, North Branch banged out seven hits.

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