The Northwood-Kensett softball team looked poised to pick up its third win of the season Thursday in Northwood against Newman Catholic, but like a flick of a light switch the Vikings (2-19) wound up on the wrong end of another game.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth and Rachel Taylor on second base in a 4-4 game, Sarah Hovey hit a line shot down the first base line. Taylor was waved home and the throw from right beat her by a step as she was tagged out for the final out of the inning.

The quick play gave the Knights new life as they took their final at-bat of the game. Newman plated six runs, including five with two outs to win 10-6 over Northwood-Kensett.

“Just a couple little mental errors, a couple little base hits,” said Vikings head coach Aaron Foster. “Things just added up. That’s where they pulled ahead.”

As for the decision to wave Taylor home, Foster wasn’t about to second guess himself.

“I thought we’d get her across the plate and take the lead,” he said. “Anytime we get that, I’ll take the heat for any of those plays. It’s very rare that we’re in a position like that.”

After Northwood-Kensett recorded two outs, the Knights bats coupled with Viking fielding mistakes led to a big seventh inning.

The next six hitters reached base, one on a bunt single and one by an error in left field as Newman kept the inning alive long enough to put the game out of reach.

“Their bats came alive at the right time,” Foster said. “Our kids played great, great softball. Can’t complain about it a bit.”

Both teams smacked the ball around during the game, combing for 28 hits. The Knights, however, capitalized more frequently than Northwood-Kensett.

Until the seventh inning Vikings starter Maren Davidson was in control, allowing just four runs on nine hits. Two of her runs came on wild pitches and the other was an unearned run.

Brooke Claussen and Britney Low led the Northwood-Kensett offense from the Nos. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup. Claussen, from the No. 3 spot, went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Low finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.

The Vikings held a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth, but the Knights struck for two runs in the inning to go up 4-3.

Northwood-Kensett tied the game in the fifth when Claussen scored on a wild pitch.

“Last year we had the one big inning where we gave up multiple, six, seven, eight runs. This year we really haven’t had that,” Foster said. “This year it’s the little things that have really hurt us. Between believing in themselves and fundamentals, those are the two things that our kids need most of all because if we don’t have that, it’s going to be hard to win.”

The Vikings play at St. Ansgar on Friday.

Newman 10, Northwood-Kensett 6

Newman 110 200 6 — 10 15 2

Northwood-Kensett 102 010 2 —  6 13 3

WP — Ali Sterns 7 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

LP — Maren Davidson 7 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K