It may have been the called "The Denison Winter Blast" but the Vikings bats were hot as they went 4-0 at the Denison Winter Blast last Thursday and Friday. Games were shuffled around due to the threat of winter weather on Valentine's Day. One of many highlights was freshman pitcher Natalie Moreaux's no-hitter and new school record for strikeouts in a game.
Game one
The Vikings handled the Pratt Beavers with a 13-0 run rule victory in the first game.
Bats got going early and often in this one. Aniyah Pequeno and Matti Matthews led off with singles and Willa Ford walked to load the bases. A sac fly from Layla Sons scored the first run of the game. Addisyn Cox walked to load the bases once again and a sac fly from Maile Larsen scored the second run. Jaclyn Draeger followed with a two run triple and Mia Krueger hit an RBI single to cap the five run inning.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, Pequeno walked to lead off the second. Matthews followed with an RBI triple for a 6-0 lead. Ford was hit by a pitch and Sons reached on an error to extend the lead to 7-0. Cox grounded out to score the eighth run of the game. Pratt put runners in scoring position in the second inning with two outs, but Riley Mays worked the strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
Paisley Needham led off the third inning with a solo homer to push the lead to 9-0. Two batters later, Matthews worked the walk and Ford singled. Both runners moved up 90 feet on the throw. Sons grounded out, scoring Matthews and Cox followed with an RBI double for an 11-0 lead. Larsen's second RBI of the game made it 12-0. A second triple from Matthews in the fourth inning made it a 13-0 game.
Matthews finished 3-3 with a pair of RBI and a pair of triples to lead offensively. Sons drove in three, while Cox, Larsen and Draeger each drove in two runs in the win.
In the circle, Mays and Guthrie combined to throw a one hitter. Mays tossed three innings giving up just one hit and striking out three. Guthrie threw the final two innings, striking out three.
Game two
Game two featured Natalie Moreaux dominating Dodge City en route to a 4-0 victory with her throwing a no-hitter and setting the new school record for strikeouts in a game with 15.
For the Vikings offensively, Pequeno and Matthews led off the top of the first with singles. Ford walked to load the bases with nobody out. Two batters later, Cox drove a single to left for a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, she ripped a triple to center, scoring Needham who led off the inning with a single. Cox scored on a sac fly by Draeger to make it 3-0.
In the sixth inning, Carolyn Koval got things started with a one out single. Courtesy runner Ava Lay came in, stole second and scored on a single by Matthews.
In the circle, Moreaux struck out the side in two different innings. She did have two walks, but neither runner made it into scoring position.
The team offensively tallied 11 hits. Pequeno and Matthews led the charge at the top of the order with three hits a piece.
Game three
The first game on Friday featured the Vikings taking on Clarendon. The Vikings picked up right where they left off on Thursday with a pair of seven run innings en route to an 18-3 victory.
In the second inning, the Vikings loaded the bases. Krueger and Larsen drew bases-loaded walks for the first two runs. Pequeno's RBI single made it 3-0 and Matthews brought home a pair of runs with a double. A Ford groundout extended the lead to 6-0 and Needham's RBI double capped the seven run inning.
In the third inning, Sons drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single by Draeger. RBI singles from Larsen and Pequeno extended the lead to 9-0. Matthews drew a walk to load the bases before Ford's bases loaded walk. Needham's bases-clearing double extended the lead to 13-0. Cox capped another seven run inning with an RBI double.
In the fourth inning, Jaylie Miller led off with a walk and moved to third on a double by Brynlie Dunkin. Miller scored on a passed ball and an RBI single from Guthrie pushed the lead to 16-0. Erin Smith's single made it a 17-0 lead before Moreaux's RBI double capped a four run inning.
Offensively, Needham finished 3-3 with four RBI to lead the team. Ford, Matthews and Pequeno all drove in two runs a piece. In the circle, Mays threw three innings, giving up just two hits and struck out five. Emily Bowden came on in relief, throwing the final two innings, striking out two.
Game four
The Vikings closed out tournament play with a 16-0 victory over Eastern Oklahoma State College.
The Vikings started the scoring with a seven run inning. Pequeno reached second on an error and moved to third on a fly ball from Matthews. Pequeno scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead. Ford drew a walk and moved to third on a single from Needham. Cox reached on an error, scoring the second run. Two batters later, Draeger, Krueger and Larsen all hit RBI singles for a 5-0 lead. Pequeno reached on a bunt single and Matthews drove in a pair with an RBI single.
In the second inning, Cox drew a one out walk and stole second. She came around to score on a single by Layla Sons. Two batters later, Krueger doubled in a run for a 9-0 lead.
In the third inning, Matthews hit a one out double and moved to third on a passed ball. Ford drew another walk and both runners scored on a two run single by Cox. Sons singled and Draeger singled home a run, followed by a two run double by Krueger for a 14-0 lead. Larsen capped the inning with an RBI single.
Needham's third homer of the season came in the fourth inning to give the Vikings a commanding 16-0 lead.
Seven different Vikings recorded at least two hits. Krueger finished 3-3 with four RBI. Matthews, Needham, Cox, Sons, Draeger and Larsen all tallied two hits each.
Moreaux threw four innings, giving up just two hits, while striking out four. Guthrie threw the fifth inning to close it out.
The wins put the Vikings at 11-1 to start the season. They returned home to take on No. 21 Rose State on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
