Union Pines used a strong defensive effort and the pitching of Shannon Cummings to stop Randleman 2-1 in girls’ softball Friday.

The defense turned two inning-ending double plays with the bases loaded, while the offense used Laura Bibey’s two-out single that scored Kelly Jo Fields and Dana Robbins to get all the runs it needed in picking up the Central Tar Heel 2-A Conference road win.

All the runs were scored in the first inning. Fields started the contest with a single, and Robbins reached on a bunt. Bibey smacked a single up the middle, scoring Fields and Robbins as the visitors took a quick 2-0 lead. The Vikings were shut down the rest of the way, going hitless until Danielle Peters had a hit in the seventh inning.

But the Viking defense, after giving up a lone run in the bottom of the first, made the quick lead stand up. In the bottom of the second, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but a double play started by Cummings ended the threat. Cummings threw the ball to third baseman Fields for the first out and Fields completed the twin killing by firing over to Heather Hennings at first base for the second out.

In the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bags once again, and once again the pitcher, this time Brenda Hallman, started the inning-ending double play. Hallman went to Lisa Jackson at the plate to get the leading runner and Jackson fired the ball down to Fields at third to complete the play.

Hallman came in to relieve Cummings with one out in the fifth, and worked the final innings to get the save. Cummings got her first win of the year, improving to 1-2.

Viking outfielders Miranda Meares and Peters made good defensive plays, and Robbins made several acrobatic plays at shortstop, Viking coach Matt Hrbek said.

Union Pines is now 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

The Vikings will be facing in-county rival North Moore today in a home doubleheader. The junior varsity will get things started at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity will play 20 minutes after the conclusion of that game.