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Wildcat Kailey McKnight drove in the tie-breaking run on a groundout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie versus the Vikings last week.  The Wildcats went on to score two more runs in the inning.  They stopped a Viking rally at one run in the top of the seventh and beat the Vikings 6-4.  The game was played April 27 at Chisago Lakes High School.

The Vikings struck first in this one.  In the top of the first inning, Sam Pederson and Paige Yoch singled to put runners on first and second with one out.  Hannah Hubbard walked to load the bases and Jaclyn Bossard walked to force in the first run of the game.  Megan Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to center and the Vikings led 2-0.  Amber Yoch popped out to Wildcat Catcher Quinncy Zupko to end the inning.

The Wildcats came back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning.  Sami Sandretto drew a leadoff walk.  She went second on Bree Lang’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Alex Smith’s single.  Smith moved to second on Zupko’s groundout to third and scored when Cassie Lynch reached on a two base error.  Lynch scored on Brooke Mueller’s double.  Alison Gajeski flew out to end the inning, but the Wildcats led 3-2 after one.

In the top of the second, Sydney Meath doubled with two outs for the Vikings.  Pederson followed with another double to score Meath and the game was tied 3-3.  There was no more scoring in the game until the bottom of the sixth.  Singles by Lynch, Mueller and Gajeski loaded the bases for the Wildcats with no outs.  Kailey McKnight and Lydia Boerboom each drove in a run with a groundout, and the Wildcats led 5-3.  Sandretto singled to drive in the third run of the inning.  She stole second, but Viking catcher Kaylee Sheppeck threw Sandretto out trying to steal third and the Wildcat led 6-3 after six.

In the top of the seventh, Meath singled with one out and went to second on a passed ball.  Wildcat pitcher Smith struck out Pederson for the second out.  Paige Yoch singled to drive in Meath and cut the Wildcat lead to 6-4.  But Hubbard flew out to end the game.

Viking pitcher Katelyn Berg pitched a complete game.  In six innings, she allowed six runs (only three of which were earned) on seven hits, walked two and struck out one.  Lynch started for the Wildcats and went four innings.  She allowed three earned runs on five hits, walked three and struck out five.  

Smith picked up the win for the Wildcats.  In three innings of work, she allowed just one unearned run on two hits, didn’t walk anybody and struck out four.

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