After losing 2-1 in the first game against Santa Rosa on Friday April 15, Diablo Valley College looked to take home a win in the second game of the double header.

Top of the first inning, pitcher Nicole Nordahl made quick work of the Bear Cubs with an eight pitch inning, retiring opposing side in order.

In the top of the second inning Nordahl got into a little trouble, giving up a walk to the Bear Cubs’ pitcher Rachelle Butulia. Butulia later scored on a hit from catcher Zoe Hoover, making the score 1-0, Bear Cubs lead.

In the top of the third inning, the Bear Cubs started off, getting a hit from right fielder Taylor Matthews. Matthews moved to second on her stolen base, and a hit from second baseman Miranda Swanson would drive in Matthews for the Bear Cubs second run. Nordahl limited the damage in the rest of the inning, keeping the game close with a score of 2-0, Bear Cubs lead.

In the bottom of the third inning the Vikings came out strong with center fielder Laurel Poff leading off the inning with a walk. Deighton got a hit, and VanMotman followed with another walk, leaving the bases loaded for first baseman Cynthia Duenas. The first pitch Duenas saw, she ripped a grand slam over the left field wall, giving the Vikings the lead, 4-2.

But the Vikings weren’t done just yet. Third baseman Bailey Simmons followed Duenas with a homerun of her own over the left field wall, making the score 5-2 DVC. Left fielder Julia Pelletier came up and got a hit and advanced to third base on an error by the Bear Cubs left fielder Cheyenne Cooper. Nordahl came up next and got a hit to drive in Pelletier, sending Vikings up 6-2 at the end of third inning.

“I felt good hitting the home run when the team needed runs on the board,” said Simmons, “but we could have hit the ball on the ground more and that would have changed the game completely.”

Top of the fifth inning the Bear Cubs had some life, with Matthews leading off the inning with a double, and Swanson following with a hit of her own. Runners at second and third for center fielder Katrina Ohleyer, who grounded out to first, allowing two runs to score, Vikings lead 6-4.

Top of the seventh inning, Santa Rosa’s Matthews led off the inning with a hit followed by hits from Swanson and Ohleyer. Two runs scored, the game was tied at 6-6. Another hit from designated player, Ashley Stevens would give the Bear Cubs the lead, 7-6.

There was no coming back for the Vikings in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they fell to the Bear Cubs with a final score of 7-6.

“Offensively, we can improve on staying down on the ball,” said Deighton on the game, “but defensively when we needed outs we didn’t come through completely.”

“We had good hits throughout the game,” said Nordahl, “we just didn’t execute as well as we could have.”

Up next, the Vikings take on Consumes River on Tuesday, April 26 at 3 p.m.