The Northwood-Kensett softball team traveled to Buffalo Center Monday night for a first-round regional matchup against North Iowa.

The Vikings easily disposed of the Bison on their way to a 19-2 regional playoff win.

Northwood-Kensett got the scoring started early when sophomore Kayla Senne reached on a single in the first inning and was batted in two at bats later when senior Allie Carmen was safe on an error. Another run was scored by senior Molly Hunchis, who doubled to center field.

A passed ball in the bottom of the inning cost the Vikings a run, but they would take a two-run lead back in the top of the second on a bases-loaded walk by senior Laura Hopperstad.

After a quick three-up-three-out inning defensively, the Vikings ripped the game wide open with five runs in the third. Junior Payton Pangburn was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat of the inning. Fellow junior Kennedy Eskildsen advanced her to third base with a single in the next at-bat. Junior Jaela Parks then hit in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Pangburn. A triple by freshman Carly Hengesteg, a single by Senne and back-to-back doubles by Hopperstad and Carmen scored one run each, upping the Vikings lead to seven runs.

Northwood-Kensett gave up another run in the third, but it would prove not to matter, as the Vikings went on to score four more runs in the bottom of the inning. One of the runs came by way of Eskildsen scoring on a passed ball; Parks hit in one run and Hopperstad hit in two.

The Vikings had their most productive inning in the fifth, scoring nine runs and ending the game early. Parks scored a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, Hengesteg scored a run after reaching on an error and Senne, Hopperstad and Hunchis each had a single that scored a run. The 19th and final run of the game for the Vikings came after sophomore Hallie Varner was safe following an error.

Senne started in the circle for the Vikings, pitching all five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out six. Hopperstad led the team with an impressive six RBIs as the Vikings head to the second round of regional play.

The Vikings move to 13-12 on the season and will play again Wednesday night when they travel to Algona to take on the 26-6 Golden Bears of Bishop Garrigan.