The runs keep piling up for Hopkins’ softball team, along with the victories.
Thursday’s victim was non-conference opponent Hastings, which fell 17-0 and 16-1 in a doubleheader. The verdicts left the Lady Vikings with an overall season record of 10-1, with all 10 triumps coming consecutively after an 11-3 season opening loss to Hamilton.
The twin bill opener was brief, but decisive, as Hopkins scored five runs in the first inning and 12 in the second to cut it short because of the mercy rule.
For freshman pitcher Hannah Brinks it was nine batters up and nine batters down, with six strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Peyton Roxbury, Avery Osborn, Emily Dimock and Ava Vanderkolk each had two hits to lead the hit parade that included 12 in all. Vanderkolk had four runs batted in and Dimock, Lyla Reynolds and Megan Andres two apiece.
Eight of Hopkins’ nine batters had at least one hit, with the only exception of Brinks, but pitchers aren’t customarily called on to do the hitting.
The nightcap lasted a little longer at four innings before the Saxons were declared mercied again. The Vikings rallied for six runs in the second inning and a half dozen more in the third.
Hopkins collected 17 hits in the second game and Sierra Smith hurled four innings of two-hit ball, striking out nine.
Smith belted a triple and she, Dimock and Osborn each had a double and Vanderkolk had two of them.
Smith and Peyton Roxbury had three hits apiece and Reynolds, Dimock, Vanderkolk and Madison Schwartz had two each.
The Lady Vikings have been scoring in double figures in each game of all of its doubleheaders.
