Lady Vikes rally from four-run deficit in eighth to walk off Underwood 12-11

AVOCA — The AHSTW Lady Vikes had one of it most impressive wins of the season Monday night when they rallied from a 11-7 deficit in the eighth inning to beat conference foe Underwood. 
The Lady Vikes appeared to be in control early after racing out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Halle Goodman ignited the offense with a leadoff single and moved into scoring position following a wild throw. Lamp followed with an RBI double through the left side to score the game’s first run. 
After another Underwood throwing error allowed a second run to score, Kendra Hansen delivered the biggest swings of the inning, crushing a two-run home run to left field to put AHSTW in front 4-0.
Assistant coach Charles Madden said Hansen’s home run provided a major spark.
“It was a great momentum starter for our team,” Madden said. 
“I just wish we could have kept that momentum throughout the whole game. We kind of went flat a little bit, but like I said, I’m glad we came back alive late. She pitched a heck of a game for us. We made some mistakes behind her, but it was good to come out and get a win.”
Hansen was sharp in the circle early, striking out three batters through the first two innings and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second. 
After issuing three walks, Hansen and the Lady Vikes defense recorded a force out at home before Hansen recorded a strikeout to strand all three runners and preserve the lead.
Underwood finally broke through in the third inning. The Eagles strung together several hits and scored three runs to cut the AHSTW advantage to 4-3. 
Despite the rally, the Lady Vikes limited the dam-age and maintained the lead heading into the middle innings.
The score remained 4-3 until the fifth when AHSTW came up with one of the game’s biggest defensive plays. 
After an Underwood double put pressure on the defense, the Lady Vikes erased a runner at the plate during a chaotic sequence that kept the Eagles from tying the game.
The momentum immediately carried into the bot-tom half of the inning.
Lamp drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a dropped third strike. 
Hansen’s aggressive baserunning then helped produce two more runs as the Lady Vikes capitalized on Underwood mistakes to extend their lead to 7-3.
Just when it appeared AHSTW had regained control, Underwood answered.
The Eagles erupted for four runs in the sixth inning, all coming with two outs. Consecutive RBI hits erased the Lady Vikes four-run advantage and tied the game at 7-7.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning. Hansen recorded two strikeouts in the top half to send the game into the bottom of the seventh inning. 
In the bottom half the Lady Vikes started with Pace and Rice base hits but couldn’t come through which pushed the game to extra innings. The eighth inning provided even more drama.
An error to begin the inning opened the door for Underwood. The Eagles took advantage, scoring four runs and turning a tie game into an 11-7 lead. 
With the inning threatening to get even bigger, Madden turned to senior Halle Goodman in relief.
Goodman quickly settled things down, recording two groundball outs to prevent further damage.
“She’s just one that we trust all the time to put on the mound,” Madden said.
“She’s a senior and has played the game a lot. She’s a great competitor and great player.”
Facing a four-run deficit and down to their final three outs, the Lady Vikes never panicked.
Madden’s message entering the bottom of the eighth was simple.
“Let’s get on base and we’ll make some things happen,” Madden said.
“Sit back and wait and hit the ball.” AHSTW followed that message perfectly.
Kadence Coolidge opened the inning with an in-field single before Goodman followed with a base hit through the left side. 
Lamp then hustled out a double that brought home two runs and cut the deficit to 11-9.
Madden later reached on a perfectly executed bunt single, and Pace was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. 
Rice followed with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Lamp and moved AHSTW within one run.
After Hansen drew a walk to reload the bases, the Lady Vikes had the tying and winning runs aboard.
Standing in the batter’s box with the game on the line was Knop.
“I needed to get on base and get some runs on the board,” Knop said. 
“I was trying to be picky on all the pitches and get on somehow.”
Knop said the team’s approach throughout the inning centered around patience and finding any possible way to reach base.
“Our mentality was to be picky in the box and find some way, somehow, to get on,” Knop said.
“Coach told us to trust him when we got on and just get on base.” Moments later, Knop delivered.
Knop lined a two-run single, bringing home the tying and winning runs and sending the Lady Vikings pouring out of the dugout in celebration of a remarkable 12-11 walk-off victory.
The win capped a night that featured a four-run first inning, Hansen’s two-run homer, eight strikeouts from Hansen, multiple lead changes and a five-run comeback in the final inning.
“I liked how our team had the grit at the end to fight through,” Madden said. 
“To come back and win with a four-run deficit, it was a good hard-fought win and I’m glad the bats came back alive.”
The Lady Vikes returned to action Thursday night when they traveled to Missouri Valley to take on the No.4 team in class 2A the Lady Reds.