DES MOINES, IOWA—The Vikings take on the 6th-ranked Eagles from Central Methodist University, a team the Vikings have not played a whole lot, with the last matchup coming in 2019. Grand View is coming from a series sweep over Missouri Valley College, improving their conference record to 7-7. Coming into the series, the Vikings are batting .337 as a team, with a .432 OBP, and have 52 home runs on the season as they look to get on the board early.

GAME 1:
Jason Moist would get the start for the Vikings in game 1 of the series, his 7th of the season. The Eagles would get on the board early but not for long, as Hank Hinrich would send a shot to the right to knot the game up at 1. The rest of the Viking offense would plate seven runs, ten hits, and four walks in the game to defeat the Eagles. Some highlights from the Viking offense: Brook Heinen would go 3-4 with 2 R and an RBI, and Brock Jonson would go 2-4 with 2 R, SB, and 2 RBI. Grand View took advantage of some errors made by the Eagles in the late innings to put this game away, scoring two in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one in the sixth to beat 6th-ranked Central Methodist.

GAME 2:
A pitcher's duel was the story of game two against Central Methodist. Logan Smith would get the start for the Vikings, his 7th of the 2024 season. Giving up two hits and zero runs over four and two-thirds innings. Jacob Wolver would be credited with losing, his first in the season. Wolver would go three innings, giving up one run and three hits. Smith, Armstrong, and Wolver would strand 13 runners despite losing in game 2. As for the Vikings offense, they struggled to get runners into scoring positions and find timely hits to move runners around. Dane Schwirtz would go 2-4 with two singles for the Vikings in the 1-0 loss.

GAME 3:
In game three, the Vikings would not have much going offensively until the 4th inning, where they would get a home run from Erick Broekemeier to tie the game at 1. Nolan Drill would then hit into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 5th to score Carsen Wadel. The offense totaled 11 hits in game one but could not get a couple of timely hits to win the game. The Eagles would tie the game at 2 in the top of the 7th and add another run in the 8th to defeat the Vikings.

GAME 4:
Grand View would trial 4-1 after two innings, but a bases-clearing double to center field would knot the game up at 4. The Vikings would take the lead back, scoring five runs on six hits and no errors in the bottom of the fourth inning. They were highlighted by a blast to the left by catcher Brock Rinehart on the ninth pitch of his at-bat to drive in two. The Vikings would end up falling in the final game of the series. Grand View tallied 13 hits in the game, Dane Schwirts would go 3-4, and Jonson and Rinehart would have 3 RBIS in the loss.

GAME NOTES:
• The Viking staff only allowed three runs in the first DH
• Grand View would steal five bases on the weekend
• Viking offense now has 55 home runs on the season with a .579 Slugging %
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Vikings will take on Graceland in a DH on Tuesday, April 9th, starting at 2:00 PM before hitting the road this weekend. They are headed to Peru, Nebraska, to take on the Wildcats of Peru State in a four game conference series.