For the first time in a long time Tuesday, the Warren Central Lady Vikes got to kick up their heels and celebrate after a game.

WC hit five home runs — including four in a row during a nine-run second inning — and snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating hapless Provine 18-1 at Lucy Young Field.

It was the Lady Vikes’ first win since they won the finale at the Clinton tournament on Sept. 11, and gave them a boost heading into next week’s Class 6A playoffs. WC finishes the regular season Thursday at home against Brookhaven, then hosts Northwest Rankin in a best-of-three first-round series next Tuesday.

“We definitely needed a win. We’ve played a little better here lately, but just haven’t won,” WC coach Dana McGivney said. “Just being able to put together enough runs to win a ballgame was what we needed.”

WC (7-15) got more than enough to beat Provine (3-8).

Alexis Patterson, Krista Cortezie, Karley Hinson and Katie Channell hit consecutive home runs in the second inning as the Lady Vikes surged to an 11-1 lead. All four homers were on deep fly balls or line drives that sailed over the heads of Provine’s outfielders.

Lexi Burleigh led off the third inning with a triple, but circled the bases thanks to a Provine error. After a walk, Sydnei Smith belted another fly ball to deep left-center and chased Audrianna Ratliff around the bases for WC’s fifth homer. Ratliff, who had held up at first in case the ball was caught, scored about three steps ahead of Smith.

A few more hits and a two-run single by Paige Richardson stretched the lead to 18-1 and ended the game by the mercy rule.

Smith also walked twice and scored three runs, while Lauren Boolos scored twice and drove in two runs with a second-inning single for the Lady Vikes, who waited out Provine pitcher Jessica Wilbun. Wilbun walked nine batters and threw several pitches that plopped to the dirt about 20 feet from home plate.

“I’m definitely happy we got to hit,” McGivney said. “I told them if they get one strike, be ready to hit that one strike because that’s not what we’re going to see on Thursday or in the playoffs.”