SOUTH PARIS – The first couple of pitches that Kristy Jurczak threw had her quickly down in the count Wednesday.

That didn’t faze the Oxford Hills pitcher. Jurczak battled back for a strikeout and fanned five of the first six batters in her club’s season opener.

“The first inning is always the hardest,” said Jurczak. “You have to judge the umpire and then judge the batters. Usually you throw the ball around a little bit just to find out where the corners are and where the strike zone ends. So I don’t really get that upset if I start 3-0. I’m confident in myself and my catcher that I can come back from that. It’s definitely a big comeback to come out like that.”

Jurczak pitched a fine game and her Vikings provided the offense in a 5-1 win over Brunswick. Jurczak struck out 11 and walked just two. She had a no-hitter through the first four innings and allowed just two hits overall.

“In Florida, I got hit a little more than usual, and I really needed to get my confidence back,” said Jurczak. “We played a scrimmage Saturday. That helped a lot. It was good to come back and have a good start at home.”

Playing at the field behind the high school, the Vikings got the early lead and produced eight hits against the Dragons. Mariah Martin and Dayna Schultz each had a pair of hits.

“We actually hit well in Florida,” said Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard, whose team played 10 games at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando last week. “Today, it was just a matter of time. We didn’t strike out a lot. We made some pretty good solid contact.”

The Vikings had the bases loaded in the first but failed to score after producing three hits. In the second, Martin delivered a big blow with a triple to center. That scored Frankie Severance, and Martin scored on an error on the throw home.

“I just wanted to take a deep breath and go,” said Martin, a sophomore. “My signal was just to hit, and I wanted to make contact.”

The lead stayed at 2-0 as Jurczak cruised along, striking out eight in the first four innings. Catcher Mindy Rugg threw out a pair of runners stealing and Schultz made a nice running catch in left.

The Dragons got their first hit when Mardi Artis singled in the fifth with one out. Brunswick left a runner stranded on third in that inning but cut it to 2-1 in the sixth when Melanie Bryant walked. She advanced on a sacrifice and wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch.

“It’s hard because you pitch seven innings and throw so many pitches,” said Jurczak. “The batters get used to what you’re throwing. You have to mix it up and sometimes pull out pitches you haven’t used all game. It can be a little rough, but I can get through it fine.”

In the bottom of the inning, Breanna Martin walked and advanced on a sacrifice and stolen base. She scored on a wild pitch. Then after Caitlin Hanley walked, Schultz hit a drive to center for a two-run homer.

“This field is a big help if you get some to the gaps because they’re usually big hits,” said Goddard. “If we were at Brunswick that might be only a double or not even get to the fence.”

The Vikings weren’t accustomed to such chilly temperatures after playing in 80 degrees last week. Still, Oxford Hills produced a solid opener and benefited from the competition last week.

“It gave us a really good bonding experience,” said Martin. “We were able to figure out who everyone is and what they’re strengths and weaknesses are and when they need to be picked up and when the need the encouragement.”