Laikyn Nadolny’s bases-loaded triple proved to be the difference for the Vikings against Harwich.

“It shows the dedication of this group and especially of the seniors,” said head coach Mike Dunphy.

Harwich went up 2-0 in the first inning, but East Bridgewater took the lead in the third inning and went on to a 7-4 win to improve to 13-0 on Monday.

“We knew Harwich was going to give us a battle,” said head coach Mike Dunphy.  “But it took us by surprise going down 2-0. I feel real fortunate that we are 13-0.”

Harwich was able to take the lead on a first inning homer, but the Vikings were able to go up by three runs in the third inning by taking advantage of some Harwich errors in the field and an RBI hit by Taylor Richards. In the fourth inning, Harwich appeared to tie the game with a solo homer off of Nicole Eisenmann, but right fielder Kayla Feeney appealed the play and the Harwich player was called out for not touching second base.

“That was fortunate,” Dunphy said. “I talk to the girls all the time about, if the ball is not hit to you, don’t fall asleep and I give Kayla Feeney credit for watching the runner. I wasn’t even aware of it.”

Nadolny had been 0-3 at the plate heading into the at bat and had left some runners in scoring position earlier in the game. But Dunphy said the big hit in the fifth was the type if clutch hitting he expects from his senior captain.

“She really came through that fourth time up.”

Richards came in to relieve Eisenmann after the Viking ace took a ball off the knee and shut the door on Harwich for the win.

Dunphy said after the game that, despite East Bridgewater’s undefeated record, he knew there would be tough games on the tail end of the schedule and was glad his team was able to rally behind Richards with Eisenmann out of the game.

“I knew at one point we would get into this type of situation,” he said. “I give a lot of credit to Taylor Richards for hanging in there She was able to shut them down and preserve the win.”

Melissa Souza helped pitch a two-hit shutout against Cohasset and factors heavily in the future of the Vikings rotation.

Catcher Kyla Palaschak had five hits in the win while Jordan McDermott had four RBI on three hits. Kaitlyn Maderios led the Vikings with six RBI on three hits including a grand slam that was part of a 12-run inning for the Vikings. The shot to left center by the Viking third baseman went over the fence and into another field.

“That was a long fly ball,” Dunphy said. “She’s got good power, especially to the opposite field.”

With Eisenmann still feeling the effects of getting hit with the ball the day before,  Richards and Melissa Souza each pitched three innings of shutout softball on a combined two-hitter.

“We were very fortunate to be able to rest Nicole,” said Dunphy who added that he was pleased with Souza’s pitching and expects her to play a big role in the rotation next season.

“We’re trying to get her some time on the mound so she can’t step up into Taylor’s spot next year and be the number two starter.”

Despite clinching another banner, Dunphy said the team is not looking ahead to tournament play yet. After sharing the league title with Abington last season, he said the next goal for his team is to be sole champions of the South Shore League, which they can do by winning one more league game.

“No one will be able to catch us if we get 12 [league] wins,” he said. “We’re looking to win the title outright, then to go 14-0 the league and then the next goal is to get to the South Section semifinals in Taunton.”