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Bountiful • As rain pummeled the field, coming dangerously close to delaying action, Viewmont continuously left its runners stranded on an island. Time and time again, the Vikings failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities — either by strikeouts, double plays or sheer bad luck, particularly in bunting situations.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth inning, Viewmont appeared to be headed for another disappointment when Jamo Smith ripped a two-run double, breaking the stalemate with Northridge for a 3-1 victory.

"He threw me a curveball first pitch for a ball, and then a fastball low, so it was 2-0," Smith said. "I was thinking: If he brings it down the middle, I'm going to put it in play, and I saw a fastball down the middle."

Viewmont (10-6, 8-4 Region 1) surpassed the Knights (14-7, 9-6) in the Region 1 standings for second place with the win. The Vikings have a series apiece against Weber and Davis, while Northridge is down to one series against Syracuse.

"That was really big," Viewmont coach Jeff Toller said. "It's really big for [Smith] because he's been sharing time at second base. He hasn't complained, and he just steps up and gets the job done."

Unlike the first two games of the series — in which Viewmont took Game 1, 7-3, before Northridge responded with an 11-5 victory — both teams struggled to push runs across the plate Friday.

"I don't think the pitchers of either team did really well in the first two games," Toller said. "Maybe the hype of the series? We hit really well in the first game, and they smacked us in the second game. But I think pitching took back over."

In his second start of the season, the Vikings' Taylor Brinkerhoff hit Ryan Cleverly on the first pitch of the game. He walked the following batter, Josh Brown. However, the junior calmed his nerves and didn't allow a hit until Brown's run-scoring double in the third inning, which evened the score at 1-1.

Tyler Erickson relieved Brinkerhoff, who scattered four hits with four strikeouts, in the fifth inning with one down.

"[Brinkerhoff] pitched really well," Toller said. "Just when it got down [to the wire], I wanted to go back to the senior [Erickson] to close it out, and he did."

The Vikings captured their 1-0 advantage on Ashton Hammond's RBI single after Jacob Bangerter opened the second inning with a leadoff triple.

"We're just a confident team, and I think we always believe in ourselves," Smith said.

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Viewmont 3, Northridge 1

R The Vikings surpass the Knights for second place in Region 1.

• Jamo Smith slaps a game-winning two-run RBI double with two outs in the sixth inning.

• Tyler Erickson earns the win after replacing Taylor Brinkerhoff, who pitches 51⁄3 innings.

• Viewmont wins the series after the Vikings and Knights split the first two matchups.