Thank you to Mya Lorenz for the pictures
CLERMONT, Fla. – North Park softball split a pair of games in their season opener on Monday morning. The Vikings suffered a 13-4 loss to Lakeland before regrouping with a 7-1 win against Wisconsin Lutheran.
Lakeland manufactured five runs in both the first and second innings, utilizing five walks and seven hits in the first two frames to essentially put the game out of reach early.
North Park rattled off three runs in the fifth inning thanks to Kayla Sapolu's RBI double and an RBI single by Isa Santos. Unfortunately, it was too little too late and the Vikings were out after five innings.
However, the Vikings reclaimed the day with a turnaround win against the Warriors.
Sophomore Eden Baker started the game with an oppo double before promptly stealing second. Following a walk by Santos, sophomore Kathryn Keehn singled to center, loading the bases for sophomore Kayla Lorenz who also drove a two-run oppo double. Sophomore Salyssa Garcia converted on a squeeze bunt to end the first inning of scoring.
In the Warriors' half of the inning, Baker, in her debut on the mound, worked a scoreless first. Baker ended up tossing a complete game, punching out eight while surrendering only three hits and one run.
North Park got four more runs in the seventh thanks to RBI singles by sophomore Sydney Snyder and Sapolu. Lorenz also added to the fun with another two-run single center.
Baker closed the game out in the seventh by sitting three hitters down; liner, popout, strikeout to seal the first Viking win of the season, 7-1.
- NPU swipes five bases in game two
- Lorenz 2-for-3 with 4 RBI against the Warriors
- Santos with a pair of runs scored
- Baker with her first career win in the circle, strikes out eight
North Park (1-1) has two more games on Tuesday, March 12. The Vikings face Utica University at 1:45 PM ET before Ripon at 4:15 PM ET. Both games will be played at Legends Way.
