The Hopkins varsity softball team halted a seven-game losing streak Friday afternoon by squeaking past Delton 7-6 in the nightcap of a non-league doubleheader.
The Vikings, who dropped the opener 18-8, has been suffering through a slump that has been exacerbated by three starting players being out of the lineup and playing better than usual non-league opponents.
The split left Hopkins with a 15-8 overall record.
Hannah Brinks and Sierra Smith split pitching duties and they had to hang on after grabbing a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Panthers scored one in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth to make it close.
Smith, Emily Dimock, Ava VanderKolk and Brinks belted a double and Madison Schwartz added a single. Brinks and Vanderkolk both drove in a couple of runs.
Delton, which has earned honorable mention accolades in the Michigan Softball Coaches Association Division 3 state rankings, came up with an astonishing 10-run rally in the top of the second inning to put away Hopkins early in the opener. The Panthers clouted three home runs in an offensive festival.
Brinks had two hits for the Vikings, as did sophomore Dahlia Veldhouse, returning from an injury. Brinks collected three RBIs. All other hits were singles by Smith, Dimock, Megan Andres and Vanderkolk.
Smith and Brinks both suffered the indignities of the Delton offensive explosion.
