NORTHWOOD — With strong defense and dominating offense, the Vikings snapped their four-game losing streak.

Junior Shelby Low led the Northwood-Kensett softball team both in the circle and at the plate to a 7-2 victory over West Fork on Friday.

Low pitched all seven innings Friday night, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out three.

Vikings coach Daryl Love said that building up Low’s pitching has been a gradual process this season, as she had less playing and practice time earlier in the season after qualifying for the state track tournament.

Low’s 2-4 presence at the plate included a home run, one run scored and two RBIs.

Freshman Dusti Bratrud, 3-3, was also an offensive force with one home run, RBI and run scored. Tegan Cotter scored two runs, while Laura Hopperstad, Jocelyn Kluender and Taylor Jorgensen scored one run each. Samantha Butler had an RBI while Kluender additionally had both an RBI and hit a double.

“They battled back and put the ball in play,” said Love. “I was really happy with everyone’s hitting.”

Love said that Jorgensen, a freshman, had a big night defensively. He said that Jorgensen played for him last season when she was an eighth-grader, and that in her role at shortstop Friday she made two “unbelievable” diving stops to hold two hard-hit drives to just two non-scoring singles.

According to Love, a lack of experience is something the Vikings, now 2-4, have struggled with so far this season. He called Friday’s victory a much-needed confidence booster, as well as a step in the right direction of the way he’d like the season to go.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” he said. “For them to step up and play like that tonight was huge.”

Next, the Vikings will host both Lake Mills and Clarion-Goldfield in a three-team tournament starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.