Home runs help Lady Vikings to victory over Blue Mountain
Big Bend 10-runs Blue Mountain twice
MOSES LAKE — This weekend the Lady Vikings softball team hit the ball a long way. A total of 32 runs in two games against the Timberwolves of Blue Mountain Community College propelled the Lady Vikings to two wins on Saturday.
The Lady Vikes got off to a slow start in the first game of the doubleheader with Blue Mountain jumping out to a 6-1 lead after the first inning and a half, but in the bottom of the second, a series of base hits and minor errors by the Timberwolves' defense put the Vikings up 10-6.
After the second inning Ashley Baker, making her pitching debut, settled in and shut down the Blue Mountain offense. Head coach Tony Stone voiced his pride for Baker after her tough first innings.
"She got roughed up in the first part of the first game," he said. "She could have given up but she didn't."
In the bottom of the third inning the Lady Vikes really got rolling on offense when Megan Platz blasted a 2-run home run into right field making the score 12-6. The home run got Big Bend started on offense and they never looked back.
Baker gave up two runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 12-8, but in the bottom of the inning Amanda Saenz stepped up to the plate and ripped a triple to right center, starting another rally for Big Bend. Stephanie Rios scored Saenz on a base hit and Ashley Baker helped her team by hitting a 2-run long ball to left field, making the score 15-8.
Natalin Jones was the next to jump on the home run bandwagon, blasting a solo shot to bring the score to 16-8. A base hit to center and two walks had the bases loaded when Saenz stepped up for the second time in the inning. She ripped a base hit to center field to score two runs and giving Big Bend a 10-run lead at 18-8.
The second game started off better for the Lady Vikings with Erica McAlmond on the mound. Jennifer Fox hit a double to right in the top of the first for the Timberwolves but then McAlmond stopped Blue Mountain in their tracks.
Jones got Big Bend's offense rolling in the bottom of the first with a triple to right. Lesa Barber hit a double to center, which scored Jones to snatch the early lead but the Lady Vikings didn't stop there. After the first inning Big Bend had built a 4-0 lead.
McAlmond gave up a walk to Erica Cunningham and then struck out the side.
Stone expressed his approval for McAlmond on Saturday, "The best part about Erica is that she hits her spots," he said.
In the bottom of the second Megan Platz hit her second home run of the day, blasting a 2-run shot that scored Barber after her base hit, bringing the score to 6-0. A one two-three inning in the top of the third put the Lady Vikes back up to bat and they took advantage. After two walks and a fly out by Jones, Barber pounded a line shot 3-run homer to left field to put Big Bend up 9-0. After the bases were cleared Platz walked and McAlmond hit a double to center. Emily Medina hit a pop fly, that was dropped by the Blue Mountain left fielder and two runs came home.
The top of the fourth brought the first runs of the game for the Timberwolves on a 2-run home run by Angela Arment making the score 11-2.
In the bottom of the fourth Barber came up big again rocketing her second 3-run home run of the game to left center bring the Vikings lead to 14-3.
It was the last of the Vikings long shots of the day. They finished with a total of six. Stone said the home runs are a result of his power offensive coaching coming to fruition.
"My strength is offense. The game has come a long way, it used to be hit the ball in the ground. Offensively we're almost where I want them to be."
Blue Mountain got one more run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth and the game ended with another ten run win for the Lady Vikes 14-4. Stone said the one thing he took away from this game is the patience his girls had at the plate.
"Patience is the most important part to hitting." He also said the girls need some work stating, "I don't think we're there yet, we need work on defense."
The Lady Vikings' next game is March 31 at 1 p.m. at home when they will take on Columbia Basin Community College.