LAKE WALES, FLORIDA – Grand View Softball had no trouble adding two more wins to the column in their Saturday doubleheader matchup against Warner University. The Vikings dominated at the plate, logging 24 hits across both games to cruise to victory. Olivia Kyes led the charge with a standout performance, going 6-for-8 with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 5 RBIs. The first game resulted in a 9-2 win, while the second saw the Vikings claim a 10-0 run-rule victory in five innings.

GAME 1 | GRAND VIEW 9, WARNER 2

The Vikings' first run of the game came when Samantha Holbert was hit by a pitch—the second batter hit in the inning—bringing Olivia Harmon home after she reached on a single to left field. Holbert, who led the team with two RBIs, played a key role in Grand View's offensive success.

Warner responded in the bottom of the first with a two-RBI double to center field, briefly taking a one-run lead. From there, Grand View took full control, tallying 10 hits over the next six innings while keeping the Lions off the scoreboard.

Olivia Kyes led the charge at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. In the second inning, she scored the lead-grabbing run after a Nevaeh Randall double to left, following an RBI single from Harmon that drove in Gabriella Taber.

Reese Cooley helped spark a four-run fourth inning, driving in Kyes with a single before a pair of Warner errors allowed Randall and Cooley to score. Kylie Merical capped off the frame with an RBI double to bring in Lowen.

The Vikings added two more insurance runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-2. Kendall Nagel singled to left to bring home Holbert, and a sacrifice fly from Taber plated Mackenzie Meister, who drew two walks in the game.

Madi Huisman earned the win, limiting Warner to five hits and two runs over five innings while striking out four and walking one. Grand View's defense committed two errors, but both came in scoreless innings for the Lions.

GAME 2 | GRAND VIEW 10, WARNER 0 (5 INNINGS)

Grand View continued to build on their momentum at the plate, run-ruling and shutting out the Lions 10-0 in five innings to finish the day. Kyes was once again the difference-maker at the plate, starting with an RBI triple to right field that allowed Harmon to score. Cooley sent Kyes home in the first with a sacrifice fly, and Grand View moved into the second frame up 2-0.

Two more runs came for the Vikings in the second as Kottlowski's RBI single drove in Merical, who had doubled, and Taber managed to score shortly after despite a Warner double play. The Lions' only hit came in the bottom of the second, but Grand View quickly shut down any hope of scoring.

Excitement heightened in the top of the fourth as Taber, Kottlowski, and Harmon all reached base to load the bases for the red-hot Kyes. The third baseman crushed the second pitch of the at-bat, sending it soaring past the left field fence for a grand slam. Aubrey Foster drove in the final run of the game, Randall, after launching a double to right field, rounding out the score to 10-0.

Claire Leinen finished the game in the circle, striking out one and producing two groundouts and two flyouts in 1.2 innings, throwing just 11 pitches. Madeline Waldorf earned the win for the Vikings, allowing only one hit in three innings while forcing five flyouts and three groundouts. Despite leaving seven runners on base and committing three errors, Grand View's defense kept Warner from capitalizing. The Vikings' 13 hits marked a season high, achieving the feat in just five innings.

GAME NOTES

• Olivia Kyes had a huge day at the plate going 6-for-8 (.750), with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run (her first of the season), and 5 RBIs.
• Left fielder Mackenzie Meister recorded a perfect 7 putouts on defense.
• Madi Huisman and Madeline Waldorf each earned a win, with Waldorf allowing just one hit over three innings and Huisman striking out four in her five-inning outing.
• Grand View totaled 24 hits in 12 innings, hitting .421 as a team with 9 doubles.

UP NEXT
The Vikings will take Sunday off before returning to action on Monday, March 3^rd, for another doubleheader against Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Games will take place at 1:00 and 3:00 PM EST (12:00 and 2:00 PM CST).