In its last regular league game, Palo Alto High School softball (6-6-0, 10-15-0) lost, 3-5, to the undefeated team in the league, Homestead High School (21-3-0, 12-0-0) today at Paly.

Up against the toughest opponent in the De Anza Division, the Vikings did not allow the Mustangs to win easily.

“I think we went out with a bang,” junior outfielder Emily Swanson said. “It was their closest score all year.”

After the first two innings, the Vikings were still in the game, only down by one run, 0-1. However, the Mustangs increased the margin as they scored the majority of their runs in the third inning.

In the top of the third, the Mustangs scored a run off of two singles and two steals to second and third base. With two outs, the Mustangs belted a shot into the far right field. The Vikings attempted to field the ball and throw the runner out at home, but after fumbling and hesitating to throw, two runners scored for Homestead

In the top of the fourth inning, the score still stood at 0-4; however, the Vikings did not let the game run away from them.

“We gave them all we could,” head coach Tim Anderson said. “The kids never quit.”

The Vikings struck back in the fourth inning when freshman infielder Hannah Bundy batted in sophomore infielder Maya Padilla with a single, scoring the team’s first run of the game.

Later in the inning, the Vikings were poised to score with no outs and senior shortstop Gracie Marshall on third. Senior outfielder Grace Stafford stepped up to bat and hit a single, batting in Marshall for the Viking’s second run.

One out later, Stafford stole second, barely sliding under the tag to make it safely. Then, senior infielder Mariah Phillips knocked one into far left field, giving Stafford the time she needed to score Paly’s third run

Despite being one run away from tying the game, the Vikings were unable to get the job done in the fifth inning. The ball seemed to successfully evade glove after glove, as the Mustangs scored another run off of junior outfielder Wangl Hymes’ hit to center. With two outs and the bases loaded for the Mustangs, Bundy ended the tough inning when she threw the runner out at first.

“They brought a lot of good energy, we really had a chance to win,” Anderson said. “But we made a couple mistakes and to play a team that good, we had to play flawlessly.”

The Vikings still had a chance to turn the game around in the fifth inning after junior outfielder Anna Rizza and Padilla both batted long singles into right field. With only one out, senior catcher Anna Gale bunted the ball, allowing Padilla to make it to second. However, the Mustangs were too quick, and after a force out at first, they made a double play by tagging out Padilla in between third and home base.

With a strong performance by freshman pitcher Julia Saul, the score remained frozen at 3-5 until the end of the game. Anderson praised Saul, who pitched the entire game.

“She’s going to be great, she really pitched well today,” Anderson said.

According to Anderson, Paly ended the league season with the same record as last year, 6-6-0.

“We exceeded other people’s expectations,” Anderson said.

However, because strong competition this year, Anderson noted uncertainty as to whether or not the Vikings would advance to the Central Coast Section playoffs.