Kansas City, MO - The Vikings traveled down to Kansas City this weekend, opening up the series Friday afternoon with two record-breaking wins over Northwestern College out of Orange City, IA, by scores of 33-6 and 17-6. On Saturday, Grand View split the series with the Red Raiders, winning 10-1 in the first game and dropping the final round 7-3. The Vikings improve to 4-3 overall.
GAME 1:
The first game got off to a hot start, and Brock Rinehart had a solo home run to put the Vikings up 1-0. Setting them up for a 3-run first inning and would not lose the lead for the remainder of the game. Moving to the 4th inning, Grand View would score 9 runs. Junior Connor Canny would go 4-6 with 2 HR, 12 RBIs, and a walk. Grand View erupted for 25 hits in the game, with 17 extra-base hits. Drew Conn started the game for Grand View going 4.2 innings and striking out 6.
GAME 2:
Game 2 was started by Jason Moist, who would retire the side to get the Vikings bats going. Brook Heinen doubled at the top of the second, setting Connor Canny up for an RBI double to get the Vikings' first run across the board. Wadel would also double to bring Canny in for a 3 run in the second inning. Hemrich and Broekemeier would go back-to-back with home runs to start the 3rd, and that is where the Vikings would run away with the lead, putting them up 10-0. Moist allowed 7 hits and 6 runs before being relieved by Cade Armstrong, who would end up closing the game out for the Vikings.
GAME 3:
Logan Smith was credited with the Win in game one of the series on Saturday, making it his first pitching win of the season. Smith would go 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, 1 run, and punching out 4 batters in his outing today. Scherbenske would come in with the bases loaded in the 4th inning to put out the threat from the Red Raiders with a groundout to first basemen Eric Broekemeier. Scherbenske would finish the game, going 3.1 innings with four strikeouts. Hank Himrich got the offense going early, sending one over the fence to get on the board 2-0. Himrich would go 1-3 with 3 RBIs, 1 run, and a SAC fly to bring in a run in the 6th inning, adding to the four runs scored in the bottom of the 6th inning.
GAME 4:
In the weekend's final game, Northwestern jumped out to an early 2-run lead in the first that would not last long for the Red Raiders. Carson Wadel singled in the bottom of the first, setting up a Rinehart Blast to Right center to tie it up. The game would become a pitcher duel until the 5th inning when Northwestern would score three runs to retake the lead. Nolan Drill would bring in a run in the 6th inning, but that is all the Vikings would score in the final innings. Dropping the last game of the series to Northwestern College. Junior Josh Stoll is credited for the loss in the matchup, going four innings.
GAME NOTES
- Connor Canny posted a record day for the Vikings on Friday; the junior went 7-for-10 with 5 homers (3 grand slams) and 18 RBIs.
- Grand View had five errors in the four games.
- The Vikings rank No. 1 in the nation in slugging precentage at .834%
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Vikings go wheels up to Florida next week. Grand View will see six games in the span of a week down South. Opening up action in the RussMatt Invitational on February 28th versus Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
