Lady Vikings struggle on tough weekend trip

PASCO - It's pretty obvious that the Big Bend Lady Vikings' softball team has begun to turn the corner in making a name for themselves.

This weekend the Lady Vikings had an opportunity to put a stamp on claiming a spot amongst the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) elite as they travelled to top dogs, Columbia Basin College and Walla Walla Community College.

In the end, the Big Bend squad came away from the action with a 1-3 mark and found themselves at 11-7 overall and 4-4 in league play, good enough for a tie for fourth place in the East Division.

On Friday, the Lady Vikings dropped a 3-1, 9-0 doubleheader sweep at the hands of Walla Walla (14-4, 6-1).

In the opener, Walla Walla held on and got just enough offense against Big Bend pitcher Erika Hanson.

Hanson, threw a complete game and gave up seven hits while striking out three.

Brin Neff led Big Bend's offense by going 2-for-3. Kendra Schwulst, Kalli Heller, Brittney Miller, and Lauren Sams all recorded a hit apiece.

In the nightcap, Walla Walla rolled behind a dominant pitching performance.

"The first game Walla was a well played game on both sides," Big Bend head coach Jeremy Iverson said. "We just didn't get the key hit when we needed it, and they did.  The kids played well though.  "In the second game we just gave them extra opportunities and you cant do that with good teams."

Miller went 2-for-2 to lead Big Bend.

In Pasco, the following day, Hanson came out firing and got Big Bend on track with a six-hit shutout as Big Bend rolled 13-0 over CBC (13-8, 6-3).

"Erika threw well today, and had the offense to back her up," Iverson said. "She threw strikes and hit her spots all day."

Heller went 3-for-4 with a homer, while Brooke Vincent finished 2-for-3 with a round-tripper herself. Jessica Wald added another four-bagger and went 2-for-3 while Neff's sole hit was a home run as was Miller's. Moses Lake High School graduate Bailey Ritchie went 2-for-4.

Heller, Vincent, and Miller went back-to-back-to-back in hitting their homeruns.

"It was real fun to watch the bats come alive after struggling at the dish the day before," Iverson said.

The hosts even the ledger in the second game, winning 5-2, as the Big Bend bats cooled with only four hits.

Hanson went 1-fo-3 with a home run while Heller finished 2-for-3.

"Going 1-3 this weekend was not the desired outcome," Iverson said. "But I know the kids will show up next week ready to work, and we will see what next weekend brings."