With a rematch looming next Thursday in sub-sections, the Hayfield baseball team got the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva reserves for nearly six innings Friday afternoon. Even after three Hayfield runs brought back the NRHEG starters, the Vikings were able to hold on for a 3-2 win.

"It was still a good game for our confidence to know that we could hang with them in their place," said Hayfield head coach Chris Pack.

Scott Thompson went all seven innings to get the victory for the Vikings, surrendering just two hits and striking out 10.

After Hayfield struck for three runs in the top of the sixth, NRHEG put a number of their regulars back in the game to try and pull out a win.

Despite walking three and hitting a batter, Thompson was able to weather the storm fairly well, allowing only one hit and just two runs in the inning. He shut the door on their rally by getting a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the threat.

George Evjen went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs driven in to lead the Viking offense, which stranded 11 runners over the course of the game. Tyler Kramer was also 2-3 with an RBI.

The Vikings finish their season 8-12 overall and 5-11 in the Hiawatha Valley League. They travel to NRHEG again next Thursday for the first round of Sub-Section 5A play. Game time is 5 p.m.

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WP--Thompson. LP--Wenzel.