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The Viking softball team collected two conference wins in as many days in the middle of last week. Wednesday, May 7 they split a double-header at Columbia Heights. The next night NB scratched out a one-run win over St. Louis Park.

NB at Columbia Heights

In game one of the double header CH used what Viking head coach Ron Trunk termed "small ball" to score single runs in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh. The Hylanders' offense produced just six hits but effectively used three stolen bases and four sacrifice bunts, including a suicide squeeze, to get their runs across. Heights won the game 4-1.

North Branch mounted a rally in the seventh when it scored its only run. Kayla Merschdorf hit a two-out double, Alyssa Peterson walked, Tiffany Anderson singled to score Merschdorf, and Megan Aho walked to load the bases for Steph Saxe. Saxe lifted a deep fly to left-center to end the game.

"Steph just got under that ball a little bit," Trunk commented, "or things could have gotten interesting in a hurry."

Also getting hits for NB were Saxe (two singles) and Alley Carlson. Saxe also pitched for the Vikings, taking the complete-game loss. She gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, struck out nine, walked one and hit one batter.

North Branch finished the game with one run on five hits and an error. CH had runs on six hits and one error.

Game Two

Sophomore Tiffany Anderson threw a two-hit shutout in the second game to lead the Vikings to a 5-0 win in the second game.

NB opened the scoring in the top of the first. Megan Aho singled with one out, reached second on a passed ball and made it to third on an infield hit by Elise Holmstrom. Aho scored when the Heights shortstop mishandled a ground ball off the bat of Merschdorf.

NB got its second run in the second inning. Carlson singled to leftcenter, moved to second on a sac bunt by Peterson and scored on a RBI double by Anderson.

The Vikings broke the game open in the fourth by scoring three times. Kayla Obitz led off with a walk and scored when Carlson's bunt was thrown into right field by the Heights catcher. Peterson singled to advance Carlson to third. After Peterson stole second, Aho doubled down the left field line to score Carlson and Peterson.

According to coach Trunk, Anderson had her best performance on the mound, while pitching the complete game. She struck out seven Hylanders and walked none, facing only three batters over the minimum.

"It was nice to see Tiff throw a game like that," the Viking mentor said. "She has been working hard at hitting her spots and everything came together for her in this game."

Leading the way for the Viking offense was Megan Aho (3 for 4, 2 RBI's), Tiff Anderson (2 for 4, 1 RBI), Alyssa Peterson (1 for 2, 1 RBI) and Alley Carlson (2 for 3, with 2 runs scored).

North Branch finished with five runs on 10 Hits and committed one error. The Hylanders had two hits and three errors.

NB 3, St. Louis Park 2

Thursday, May 8, St. Louis Park scored first. In the top of the third, they scored on a lead off walk, a stolen base and a double. The Orioles added another in the fourth. A runner, on base with a lead off double, advanced to third on a groundout to first and scored on a ground out to second.

NB got two in the bottom of the inning when the first two batters reached. Megan Aho walked and Steph Saxe was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Elise Holmstrom's sac bunt was bobbled by the SLP first baseman, allowing Aho to score from second and advancing Saxe to third. Saxe scored on an infield single by Kayla Merschdorf.

The winning run for the Vikings was scored without a base hit. Lauren LaRue led off the fifth with a walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a sac fly to center by Aho and scored on a wild pitch. Aho's fly ball was the only ball the Vikings hit out of the infield the entire game.

Saxe started the game and pitched the first three innings. She gave up one run on two hits, but had control problems, walking four. Tiffany Anderson finished the game, going the last four innings. She gave up one run on four hits, struck out one and walked none to earn the win.

The Vikings had three runs on one hit and no errors. The Orioles had two runs on six hits and an error.

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