“They say that all good things must end someday. Autumn leaves must fall.” — Chad and Jeremy, 1964, “Summer Song.”
It finally had to happen. The Hopkins softball winning streak came to an end Wednesday afternoon in a 9-8 squeaker in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
The Vikings, who now own an overall record of 13-2, won the twin bill opener, 10-4.
Coach Amy Funk’s crew looked like they were on cruise control to keep the win streak going by scoring seven times in the first three innings. However, the Vikings’ customarily booming bad quieted considerably after that and they crossed the plate only once in the last four frames.
This despite pounding out 13 hits in their first sub-double figures scoring effort since the start of the campaign.
Ava Vanderkolk went 4-for-4, Emily Dimock collected three hits and Sierra Smith and Lyla Reynolds two apiece, both with two runs batted in. Dimock, Reynolds, Smith and Vanderkolk each had a double and Reynolds added yet another triple.
Smith absorbed the loss on the mound, hurling five innings. Four of the eight runs she gave up were unearned.
Lyla Reynolds and Avery Osborn both had three hits in the first game and Ava Vanderkolk unloaded a three-run triple. Reynolds also had a triple and a double. Madison Schwartz had two hits and Osborn and Megan Andres drove in a couple of runs.
Freshman Hannah Brinks went the distance on the mound, walking two and striking out five. She prevailed despite yielding four runs in the second inning and then shut the door the rest of the way.
