DES MOINES, IOWA Grand View hosted Baker University today in the first two games of a four-game operation. Kaleb Krier and Jason Moist were the two starters on the day for GV and earned wins with help from the Vikings bats, all day. Grand View totaled 36 runs in two games on Sunday and go up in the series, 2-0.
SUNDAY
GAME 1
Kaleb Krier started for the Vikings on this brisk Sunday afternoon. After a leadoff double by the Wildcats, Krier found a pair of strikeouts for the first outs of the game. A ground ball proved tough to deal with and resulted in an unearned run for Baker before Caleb retired another batter at the plate. Krier went the next four innings with zero earned runs and racked up 11 strikeouts on the day. The Vikings got going early and often at the plate. Grand View scored eight runs in the first inning alone, with RBI doubles from Erik Broekemeier, Hank Himrich, and two brought in by Brook Heinen. The inning was capped off with a three-run nuke by Bryce Stalder. The Vikings grew their comfortable lead with three more in the third. Brock Rinehart drove in two runs on a single to left, and Broekemeier singled to bring in pinch runner, Connor Canny. The fourth inning found Dane Schwirtz with an RBI single, along with two Vikings who scored on past balls. Another big inning for GV's squad was found in the fifth, as six runs were added to the tally. Carson Wadel had a two-run single to join the action, along with Brock Johnson's single which brought in Heinen. Schwirtz singled and brought in Wadel, and a fielder's choice and sac fly, made it 20-1 at the end on the fifth. The sixth inning saw some new faces at the plate, which included Weston Barber, who earned a walk and an RBI. Zach Voelz was HBP with bases loaded as well and earned an RBI. Logan Strassburg brought in a run with patience in the box as well. An RBI single by Tyler Lewnau was the last run of the game for the Vikings. Noah Kueter came in to close out the final two innings and let up three runs in the top of seven, but three strikeouts. The Vikings took game one, 24-4 on 23 hits in the contest.
GAME 2
Jason Moist took the mound in game two and threw strikes all game. Moist threw six innings and gave up six hits but no earned runs. Moist added to his win career win total and brought three more strikeouts as well. On the offensive side of things, the Vikings started up right where they left off. GV earned six runs in the first inning, with an RBI single from Rinehart and Broekemeier. Heinen added three more on a long, fly ball that escaped Lou Yacinich Stadium. Evan Borst added to the tally, with a three-run home run in the second inning as well. Johnson singled to center later in the inning to bring the lead to 11-1 by the end of two! Heinen added to his RBIs with one more in the fifth inning which bought Broekemeier home. Josh Stoll came in to close in the seventh, but Bakers bats had some fight left in them. They rattled off three before Kaden Stewart came in to limit the damage. He retired the last two batters, and the Vikings took the second of the doubleheader, 12-4.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
The backend of the 4-game series will be played Monday, March 17th. Game one will begin at 1 PM in Lou Yacinich Stadium. WEAR YOUR GREEN.
