Lady Vikes Review – 3/6-3/13

By Jeff Whitener

Jefferson College Softball Week in Review 3/6-3/13

The Jefferson College softball team was back in action last Wednesday, playing a doubleheader at Mineral Area College. In game 1, the Vikings tallied a run in the top of the 1st. In the bottom half of the frame, Halie Farris was in the circle as the Vikings gave up 4 runs on 3 hits. Jefferson would storm right back to tie the game in the 2nd inning. Kennedy Kohler knocked an RBI base hit, following a leadoff triple by Bailey Shuman. Right fielder Lindsey Brandt next drew a walk. Kohler and Brandt would then cross the plate on a 2-run single by Sara Roth. Jefferson took the lead in the third frame, thanks to a 2-run homer off the bat of Lindsey Brandt. The Lady Cardinals got a run back in the home part of the inning before the Vikings would add to their lead in the 5th. Kiersten Nixon poked a 1-out base hit and Kohler reached on an error. The stage was set for more heroics from Lindsey Brandt and she delivered, sending a pitch over the wall for a 3-homer and giving her 5 RBI on the day. The game would remain 9 to 5 in favor of the Vikes until the top of the 7th. Nixon, Shuman, and Kohler would provide the highlight of game 1 by hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs, making the final score 12 to 5. Ali Cook would come on in the bottom of the 7th and retire all three batters she faced to seal the victory for Jefferson.

Game 2 saw Kiersten Nixon in the circle for the Vikings. After giving up a run in the 1st inning, Nixon would shut the door on the Cardinals, giving up just 3 hits over 5 innings while striking out 8 and walking 1 batter. Jefferson tied the game in the bottom of the 1st and took the lead for good in the 3rd. Jenna Roth knocked home Kennedy Kohler and Lindsey Brandt, who had both reached base. The score remained 3 to 1 in favor of the Vikings until the 5th inning. Most players remember their first collegiate home run, but Freshman Tori Hinnah’s was special. After Jefferson plated 3 runs to start the frame, the bases were loaded and Hinnah delivered a grand slam. The Vikings would finish the game in the 5th by a score of 11 to 1. In addition to Hinnah’s heroics, Nixon went 3 for 3 at the plate with 1 run and 1 RBI. Catcher Jamilyn Bagby went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, and Jenna Roth was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs.

On the day, the Vikings scored 23 runs on 29 hits. Jeffco pitchers gave up 4 earned runs on 12 hits while striking out 16 and walking just 3 batters. The Vikings improved to 12-3 on the season.

On Sunday, the Vikings welcomed in Region 16 opponent North Central Missouri for 2 games.

Hailie Farris was the Viking’s starter in game 1 and quickly found herself locked in a pitcher’s duel. Jeffco plated a run in the 1st inning thanks to a leadoff single by Sara Roth, who then scored on an infield out off the bat of Dani Lindsey. North Central would answer with a leadoff single in the 3rd and a sacrifice fly. The game would stay knotted at 1 until the bottom of the 6th inning. With one out, first baseman Rile Eagan stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-0 pitched high over the fence in left-centerfield for a solo home run. Farris sat down the Pirates in order in the 7th to earn a complete-game, 2-1 win. The Vikings hurler gave up 1 run and 5 hits over 7 innings while striking out 5 and walking 2. Sara Roth and Riley Eagan both finished the game going 2 for 4, accounting for all of the Viking’s hits.

Game 2 featured a dominant pitching performance and an offensive explosion for the Vikings. Jefferson beat North Central 8-0 in 5 innings. Kiersten Nixon claimed the circle in game 2 and delivered 5 innings of no-hit baseball. Nixon stuck out 10 Pirate batters while walking 3. The Viking bats were hot, right from the very start of the game. In the 1st frame, Jeffco scored 4 runs, thanks to 3 singles and an RBI double off the bat of Dani Lindsey. The Vikings tacked on another run in the 3rd, courtesy of a Dani Lindsey single and a double by Kiersten Nixon. After Jefferson scored 2 more runs in the 4th, Nixon came to the plate with 1 out in the 5th. She lifted a ball high over the rightfield fence for a solo shot that ended the game. Nixon finished the day going 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Dani Lindsey went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI as the Vikings pushed their overall record to 14-3. On the day, Jeffco scored 10 runs on 14 hits. Pitchers Farris and Nixon combined for 2 complete games and gave up only 5 his while striking out 15 batters and walking 5.

The Jefferson ladies are back in action at home this coming Saturday vs Lincoln Land. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 PM. Come out and support your Lady Vikings!