Paly softball fell to Cupertino 19-13 on Wednesday, April 26.

Cupertino started the game strong, leading the Vikings 2-0 into the bottom of the first inning. However, the Vikings were not able to answer and remained scoreless going into the second inning.

In the second inning, Cupertino continued to score, leading Paly 8-0. Paly got their first scores off a hit from Sophie Frick (‘18) which brought in Jesse Kim (‘16) and Samantha McBride (‘18). This was followed by a hit from Sydney Liu (‘19)  brought in S. Frick and Maggie Renteria (‘17) to bring the score to 8-4.

“I think that their hitting was great this game and we just couldn’t completely catch up after their fast lead,” Maddie Frick (‘17) said.

At the start of the fourth inning a line drive off a Cupertino hitter, allowed Kim to make the catch and doubled up the Cupertino runner at first for a double play coordinated with M. Frick. In the bottom of the fourth, three base hits in row led to Fabiana Teofan (‘19) scoring, but the Vikings were still trailing 8-5 as Cupertino had been held scoreless since the second inning. A deep fly to left field by McBride advanced the runners, allowing Dhesya Swezey

 (‘18) to score and advancing Kim from second to third base. Kim stole home on a wild pitch, and Cupertino led by 8-7 after a comeback effort from the Vikings. Cupertino scored their first runs since the second inning, pulling away from Paly in the fifth inning to go up 12-7. M. Frick hit a double down the right field line in the first play of the bottom of the fifth inning, and Swezey brought her in to score for the Vikings.

At the top of the sixth, Cupertino continued to lead the Vikings 12-8. After three scores from Cupertino, the Pioneers lead 15-8 over the Vikings going into the bottom of the sixth. M. Frick hits a fly ball to center field and McBride secured the score, Paly trailing 15-9. A controversial umpire’s call took the air out of Paly’s rally and led to the second out. Cupertino could not be stopped in the seventh inning, scoring a total of four runs to lead the Vikings 19-9. S. Frick cleared the bases with a double off the wall in left centerfield, bringing in Renteria, McBride, and Kim for Viking scores. Liu hit a double to bring in S. Frick, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the Vikings.

“Our hitting was on throughout [the game],” Coach Brooke Binkley said. “They just weren’t finding the holes.”

Paly’s next game will be against Lynbrook at home at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 28.

“We need to work hard during practice tomorrow and go into our game against Lynbrook calm and focused and ready to play our game,” S. Frick said.