The Hopkins varsity softball team’s rally fell short Wednesday in a 9-8 non-league loss to South Christian.

The Lady Vikings fell behind 8-0 in the first two innings and gradually chipped away at the deficit, but went scoreless in the seventh and final inning after plating seven runs in the fifth and sixth.

Freshman Dahlia Veldhouse absorbed the loss on the mound and she was relieved after five frames by senior Sierra Smith.

Hopkins’ rally was sparked mostly by walks and Emily Dimock earned four free passes.

The loss dropped the Lady Vikings’ overall season record to 15-11.

Things won’t get easier for Hopkins this next week. It will face a pretty good Thornapple Kellogg outfit Wednesday and then take on No. 9 ranked Otsego in the opening round of the district tournament at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wayland.