“[It feels] really good … It’s been a week since we played, so all of us have been practicing and hitting, and we were like, ‘Hey, let’s hit in the game,'” Hennen said of the Vikings’ home opener. “We were excited to get out here and show our home crowd what we can do.”

Along with her 10 strikeouts, Hennen finished her pitching performance allowing four walks and five hits.

“Obviously, there’s always things I can improve, and I think that’s what I take away and I focus on the most,” Hennen said of her pitching performance. “But honestly, just knowing that we have games tomorrow, knowing you’re going to come back anyways and play no matter what happens today, and just knowing that my team has me and has my back.”

Alissa Moen tossed the first three innings for Marshall, throwing one strikeout while allowing five hits and three earned runs. Sara Dallmann relieved the final 2 2/3 innings, finishing with a trio of strikeouts while allowing one walk, six hits and one earned run.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota/Canby pitcher Madison Hennen throws a pitch against Marshall Friday night in a non-conference prep girls softball game.

Minneota/Canby outhit Marshall 11-5 on the day. The Tigers were hurt by errors, committing six, while the Vikings played a clean game with no errors.

“Offensively, we are making strides. We just aren’t putting it [the ball] into play at the right time, but that’ll come,” Marshall head coach Stacey Baedke said. “It’s only our second game of the season. We did a lot of good things tonight. We just need to reduce the errors.”

Baedke also said she thought Moen and Dallmann did their job in the pitching circle tonight, citing there can be improvement, but was encouraged by the other defensive plays they made.

The Vikings went into the bottom of the sixth inning with an 8-0 lead, and scored three runs to end the game in mercy-rule.

Jayla Jerzak hit a deep double to right field that also advanced Gretta Buysse to third base. Hennen then hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Buysse enough time to tag third and charge home and for Jerzak to get to third base.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Marshall's Taylor Frana swings at the ball against Minneota/Canby Friday night in a non-conference prep girls softball game.

Courtney Antony was hit by a pitch to also get on base, as Izabelle Hulzebos stepped up to the plate and hit a hard two-run RBI line-drive double to left field to score both Jerzak and Antony and end the game.

The Vikings got right to work on the defensive end in the top of the first inning, preventing Marshall from scoring any runs despite loading the bases up in its first at-bat.

“We started off a little rocky [defensively]. Probably not the way we wanted to start off most games, giving our coach a heart attack,” Hennen said, laughing. “Everybody made mistakes, but I think we came back from them well, and we recovered … Everybody has each other.”

Dallmann, Bailynn Parsons and Jennifer Lee got on first, second and third, respectively, following a pair of successful bunts and a hit by pitch.

Hennen tossed a strikeout, just as Minneota/Canby completed a double play with Hennen fielding a hit to toss to catcher Emily Walker for the force-out at home, and Walker threw to Antony at first base to finish the play and end the inning.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota/Canby's Jayla Jerzak slides into home plate to score a run against Marshall Friday night in a non-conference prep girls softball game.

Baedke credited Marshall for starting the game strong offensively and getting batters on base quickly.

Following their impressive defensive performance to open the game, the Vikings ran in a trio of runs in the bottom of the opening frame to take a quick 3-0 lead.

Joelle Otto hit a fly-ball single out to center field, and moved to second base off Buysse’s infield single.

Jerzak followed that up with an RBI single on a double to deep center field to score Otto and move Buysse to third as well.

Jerzak led the Vikings going 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Minneota/Canby's Danni Kockelman throws to first base for an out after fielding the ball against Marshall Friday night in a non-conference prep girls softball game.

Buysse took home on a passed ball with two outs, as did Jerzak with a Antony RBI single before the Tigers could wrap up the inning with a final out.

Minneota/Canby were quick to get back at the plate, scoring another run in the bottom of the second inning. An RBI single from Otto was able to run in Hulzebos.

Hulzebos initially got on base with a double to left field, and got to third after tagging second on a Walker sacrifice fly.

Marshall was able to make contact at the plate throughout the game, yet the Vikings’ defense ultimately stayed cohesive to limit the Tigers’ baserunning opportunities.

Walker had a successful throw down to Danni Kockelman for a tag-out of a Marshall runner attempting to steal second in the top of third.

Marshall also was able to do the same in the top of the fifth inning, with Parsons behind the plate throwing down to Lee for the tag.

Minneota/Canby added to its lead with another run in the bottom of the third, 5-0, with efficient baserunning from Jerzak, who stole home off a Tigers’ pickoff attempt throwing error.

Hennen credited the team’s baserunning on Friday, citing that the Vikings were aggressive and took advantage of any open opportunities.

Jerzak got on base following a single to center field and made her way to third from a Hennen hit and stolen base.

Allison Vanwatermeulen and Otto also made their way around the bases to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning. Vanwatermeulen got on base with a single to center field, as did Otto with a double to deep right-center field. The pair scored following a Buysse bunt and Jerzak sacrifice fly, respectively.

The Vikings kept the pace and control of the game in their favor through the final innings to finish out the rest of the game in all aspects, between hitting, running and defense.

Minneota/Canby (2-0) will next travel to Luverne today for a tournament, taking on Esko at 1:30 and the Cardinals at 3 p.m.

“I’m definitely glad to be playing. The weather was beautiful today, couldn’t have asked for a better day,” Hennen said. “I think we’re just excited to see what our team can do this year.”

Marshall (0-2) will also return to the field today, travelling to Belle Plaine for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. The second game will follow.

“It feels great [to start a new season]. Especially today, finally there was some nice weather,” Baedke said. “It’s nice to be on the dirt and have sun. We have two games tomorrow in Belle Paine, and we got to be ready to go.”

BOX SCORE

MINNEOTA/CANBY

BATTING

J. Otto: 2-4, 2 R; G. Buysse: 0-4, 2 R; J. Jerzak: 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI; M. Hennen: 0-4, RBI; C. Antony: 1-3, 2 R; D. Kockelman: 1-3, RBI, BB; I. Hulzebos: 2-4, R, 2 RBI; A. Vanwatermeulen: 2-3, R.

PITCHING

M. Hennen: 6 IP, 10 SO, 5 H, 4 BB.

MARSHALL

BATTING

J. Lee: 2-2, BB; B. Parsons: 0-1, BB; S. Dallmann: 1-3; T. Frana: 2-3; N. Reed: 0-2, BB; B. Dieken: 0-1, BB.

PITCHING

A. Moen: 3 IP, SO, 5 H, 3 ER; S. Dallmann: 2.2 IP, 3 SO, 6 H, 1 ER.