Lady Vikings compete at tourney
RICHLAND — Despite going 1-3 during their appearance at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Pre-Season Tournament, the Big Bend Lady Vikings have plenty of positives to take away from their performance this weekend.
“I was just proud of how the girls played this weekend,” Big Bend coach Jeremy Iverson said. “Even though we came away with only one win, we were in some great games which is valuable experience for our young team.”
Big Bend (2-10) started off tournament play with a solid 12-1 win over South Puget Sound Community College on Saturday.
Kalli Heller went 2-for-3 and hit a home run while Brittany Miller contributed with a 2-for-4 day and a double, and Ali Hirschi went 2-for-3.
Brooke Vincent pitched for the win and helped the Lady Vikings end a six-game losing streak.
“We did really well that game and the kids came together,” Iverson said. “We saw what they can do as a group. It was really fun to watch them.”
Later that day Big Bend dropped a tough 9-5 nine inning decision to Southwest Oregon Community College (SWOC).
Big Bend tied the game a 3-3 after seven innings and each club scored twice in the eighth before SWOC put across four runs in the top of the ninth.
Amber McDaniel went 2-for-4, Amanda Martin finished 2-for-5, and Heller pounded out a double as she finished 1-for-4.
“That was an amazing game,” Iverson said. “Erica Hanson pitched very well and the kids kept battling and fighting.”
On Sunday the Lady Vikings fell to Clark Community College 8-5 when they gave up three runs in the top of the seventh after Big Bend had rallied to tie the score at 5-5.
Big Bend held 2-1 and 4-3 leads before succumbing.
Amanda Martin went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. and Heller recorded a two-run homerun in the fifth inning to give Big Bend their last lead of the game.
Finally against Chemeketa Community College, Big Bend rallied from a 5-0 deficit to make things interesting before falling 6-4.
Big Bend scored all their runs in fifth inning when Angelica Castaneda and Kendra Schwulst hit back-to-back singles to set the table for a Sam Calahan three-run homer.
The rally didn’t end there as Lesa Hearst, Martin, and Heller hit back-to-back-to-back singles before Rachel Eng grounded out bringing in Hearst.
However the inning ended with a Brittney Miller ground out and the Lady Vikings couldn’t quite finish the comeback as Chemeketa held on for the win.
On Friday the Lady Vikings return home to host Columbia Basin College with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.