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The Viking softball season got off to a rocky start with two North Suburban Conference losses last week. The Vikings lost 8-0 at Irondale Tuesday, April 8 and were the victims of a 20-0 shellacking Thursday, April 10 on the Vikings field.

Vikings at Irondale

Irondale opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk and a pair of two-out singles. The Knights added three more in the third on a walk and three singles. Irondale opened it up in the sixth, adding their final four runs on six singles and a North Branch error.

Tiffany Anderson started on the mound for the Vikings. She went all six innings, giving up 12 hits, two walks and struck out two Irondale batters, taking the loss. Seven of the eight runs were earned.

Karissa Wilson led the Viking offense, going two-for-two with a walk. Tiffany Anderson went one-for-three at the plate and stole two bases. Elise Holmstrom had the only other Viking hit.

Irondale collected eight runs on 12 hits and no errors. The Vikings went scoreless on four hits and committed one error.

Spring Lake Park at North Branch

"Spring Lake Park scored early and often," said North Branch head coach Ron Trunk about the Vikings' loss to the Panthers. SLP racked up 20 runs on 19 hits and was aided by five NB walks and four Viking errors.

Megan Aho took the loss for NB while pitching two and one-third innings. The lone bright spot for NB was a leadoff double by Alix Lindholm in the bottom of the third.

Next up for the Vikings is a game at Chisago Lakes today (Thursday, April 17) at 4:30. NB hosts Forest Lake at 4:30 Friday, April 18 and travels to New Hope Elementary for a game with Robbinsdale-Cooper Tuesday, April 22 at 4:15.

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