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Junior pitcher Hannah Bernier had a great start to the season, giving up just one run in two games against tough Mississippi 8 Conference opponents Chisago Lakes and Princeton.

But, then she hit a rough patch, allowing 21 hits and 12 earned runs over her next two contests in very uncharacteristic outings against Princeton and St. Francis.

But, whatever was going wrong against the Tigers and Saints, Bernier corrected last week, and she was at her sharpest when the Vikings’ needed her the most.

North Branch 1, Becker 0

North Branch 3, Becker 1

The dominating run started on Tuesday, May 2 in a doubleheader against Becker at North Branch High School. Bernier tossed seven shut out innings, allowing only three hits from the Bulldogs, and striking out seven.

The game remained deadlocked at 0-0 until the seventh inning, though, until a string of hits culminated in Bernier hitting a single and scoring Aubrey Charpentier, who had gotten a hit and moved into scoring position on an Erin Pederson single.

The junior pitcher literally did it all in the game, throwing the shutout and knocking home the only RBI of the 1-0 contest.

The run continued into the second half of the doubleheader, with Bernier befuddling Becker again, this time to the tune of just five hits and one run, although it was unearned, and seven more strikeouts.

Bernier got a little bit more support in this game from her offense, with the Vikings plating two in the second inning and a third insurance run in the fifth inning.

Pederson and Samantha Schmitt had two hits each and Charpentier had a double and a run. Peyton Verdon had a triple and eventually scored and Kaytlin Hammond had a hit, RBI and run for NB.

Some of Becker hitters will be happy if they never have to face Bernier again. In all against the Bulldogs, the junior worked 14 innings to the tune of just eight hits, one unearned run and 14 strikeouts. The line was made even more impressive by the fact that Bernier’s defense didn’t play particularly well behind her, committing seven errors in the two games.

North Branch 1, Cambridge-Isanti 0

Bernier’s blazing run continued in an even more dominating performance against the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets at C-I on Thursday, May 4.

This game went to extra innings, but that didn’t stop the pitcher from throwing a complete game still, as Bernier went all 10 innings, scattering three hits and striking out 14 ‘Jackets.

North Branch eventually scored the winning run after a hit by Verdon, a walk by Schmitt and an error on the Bluejacket defense.

It was a war of attrition between the two teams, but Bernier and the North Branch offense did just enough to earn their third win in a row.

North Branch 1, Hermantown 0

The Vikings earned their third shutout in four games when they beat section rival Hermantown on Friday, May 5 at home.

The Vikes got another absolute gem from Bernier, as she went seven innings with just four hits and seven strikeouts and the offense manufactured another seventh inning run to squeeze out the victory.

“Hannah is doing a great job of not walking people, and that’s been huge considering our games have been so close,” Head Coach Kathy Crudo said. “Also, Peyton Verdon has been unreal. She has been getting on base and the only runs we’ve been scoring. She’s a phenom and amazing behind the plate as our catcher!”

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