Lady Vikings go 1-1 on first day of regional tournament

On windy day in Findlay, Ohio, Thursday, things got wild for the Glen Oaks Community College softball team. Competing at the NJCAA Division II Great Lakes District A Championship, the Vikings were on the wrong end of a high-scoring battle vs. Kalamazoo Valley to open play before edging Muskegon in the second game to live to play Friday. Glen Oaks will take on Macomb at 10:30 a.m. Friday. 

Click here for complete tournament results. 

"We are extremely proud of the never-give-up attitude of our players," Glen Oaks coach Eric Lewis said. "It is a testament to the sophomore leadership that Audrie and Grace provide. Although we came up short in a high-scoring affair in our first game, we have powerful offense and the girls believe we are never out of any game. We will continue to fight for our season to continue, which showed in our tough win versus Muskegon."

KVCC 23, Glen Oaks 22
The Glen Oaks Community College softball team opened play at the NJCAA Division II Great Lakes District A Championship with a 23-22 loss to Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Thursday at Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, Ohio.

Despite out-hitting the Cougars 23-17, Glen Oaks dropped a back-and-forth contest that featured multiple lead changes and 45 combined runs. Freshman outfielder/first baseman Kourtney Zarycki, freshman first baseman/pitcher Hannah Brinks and sophomore pitcher/first baseman Audrie Dugan each collected four hits for the Vikings.

Zarycki finished 4-for-6 with six RBIs and a home run. She singled in the second inning, doubled in the third and seventh innings, and added a two-run homer to center field during Glen Oaks' five-run fourth inning.

Kalamazoo Valley surged ahead early with seven runs in the top of the first inning. The Cougars scored on a triple, sacrifice fly, two Glen Oaks errors, a two-run single and an RBI double to take a 7-0 lead.

KVCC added five more runs in the second inning behind RBI hits from the Cougars lineup, including a two-run double and consecutive run-scoring hits that extended the lead to 12-2.

Glen Oaks answered with seven runs in the bottom of the second. The Vikings capitalized on an error before freshman infielder Maddy Lewis drew a bases-loaded walk, Dugan delivered an RBI single and Zarycki added a two-run single. Freshman infielder Grace Zimmerman later singled home another run as Glen Oaks cut the deficit to 12-9.

Kalamazoo Valley added two runs in the third inning, but the Vikings continued to rally. Glen Oaks eventually took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when it plated five runs on four hits. Zarycki's two-run homer highlighted the inning and pushed the Vikings in front 17-14.

Dugan added to the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run to center field for Glen Oaks.

The Cougars responded again in the seventh inning, erupting for seven runs to reclaim the lead at 23-19. The decisive blow came on a three-run home run by Kalamazoo Valley.

Glen Oaks continued to battle in the bottom half of the inning, but the comeback fell short.

The Vikings totaled 23 hits in the loss. Zimmerman, Lewis and freshman catcher/utility player Kaidee Gonser each recorded multiple hits, while sophomore infielder/catcher Grace Blanchard drew three walks. Glen Oaks also worked seven walks as a team.

Brinks started in the circle for Glen Oaks, allowing seven runs, five earned, in one-third of an inning. Dugan pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering seven runs on nine hits with one strikeout. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Cassie Holland took the loss after allowing nine runs, two earned, over the final three innings.

Kalamazoo Valley collected 17 hits and drew 10 walks in the win. The Cougars also turned a double play defensively.

Glen Oaks 8, Muskegon 7
Glen Oaks bounced back in its second game of the day, holding off Muskegon Community College for an 8-7 victory.

Zarycki drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Vikings. The freshman outfielder/first baseman doubled in the first inning to drive in three runs and added another RBI double in the fourth.

Muskegon jumped in front early with three runs in the top of the first inning on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single.

Glen Oaks answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Zarycki's three-run double tied the game before she later scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead.

The Vikings added two more runs in the third inning after Blanchard delivered an RBI single during a two-run frame.

Glen Oaks built an 8-3 advantage before the Jayhawks rallied late. Muskegon trimmed the deficit with a groundout, triple and RBI single, but the Vikings held on to secure the win.

Dugan earned the victory after allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out four and walking two. Brinks recorded the save.

Blanchard and Holland each collected multiple hits for Glen Oaks, which also stole three bases and committed no errors defensively. Brinks led the defensive effort with seven chances.

Muskegon finished with seven hits and four stolen bases in the loss.