Hopkins softball seniors this season nearing the end of their careers are (from left) Cami Hibma, Ava VanderKolk, Lyla Reynolds, Hannah Brinks and Madison Schwartz.
The Hopkins varsity softball team doubled up non league opponent Parchment Thursday evening to earn a split in the doubleheader and move its overall record to 17-12.
The Lady Vikings were edged in the opener 7-6, but roared back to take a 12-6 decision in the nightcap.
Hopkins took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning with a three-run rally, only to see the Panthers come back with four runs in their top of the sixth. The Vikings put two more on the board in the seventh, but it just wasn’t enough.
Hannah Brinks went the distance in the circle, giving up 10 hits, seven runs and walking five. She struck out eight hitters.
Ava VanderKolk had the big blow on the offensive side with yet another home run. Madison Schwartz and Cami Hibma both came up with three singles and Brinks, Lyla Reynolds and Kaylee Burgess all had two hits apiece.
The Vikings bats came alive in the second game, as they played three runs in the first inning, three in the fourth and a whopping six-run rally in the sixth.
Hibma, VanderKolk, Reynolds and Burgess drilled three hits each, one of Reynolds’ was a double.
Schwartz and Makenna Funk both added a pair of singles.
Freshman Gracie Stallard survived Parchment’s four-run burst in the third inning and blanked the Panthers the rest of the way. She picked up the win, walking three and striking out four.
Hopkins will play a twin bill at Fruitport Tuesday which will help decide the O-K Silver Conference championship.
