DAVENPORT, FLORIDA – Grand View took the field in a doubleheader on Saturday to continue in the RussMatt Invitational. The Vikings took on the Calumet Crimson Waves and the boys were buzzin in the Sunshine State. GVU took both games to start off the month of March, combining for 29 runs in the two games.
SATURDAY
GAME 1
The Vikings had Logan Smith on the mound in game one. Four solid innings giving up just 5 hits and 2 runs which came in the bottom of the second. Smith found 3 K's in the process through 93 pitches. Meanwhile, the Vikings had runs in each of the first four innings. Small ball in the first with bunt singles from Schwirtz and Heinen had GV on the board in the first. Three runs followed in the third, including a lead off double by Borst to get things started. Bergkamp dug out an RBI triple later in the inning, bringing in Himrich, and Heinen brought in Bergkamp with a single of his own. Two runs were earned in the third as well, with an RBI from Himrich on a fielder's choice, and a sac fly from Stalder, proving to play situation team ball as well. Rinehart joined the fun with an RBI single in the fourth and pushed the lead to 7-2. Josh Stoll, Kaden Stewart, and Jacob Wolver all pitched one innings worth, relieving Smith. Calumet showed some fight, scoring 3 runs between the fifth and sixth inning, cutting the lead down to just two. Grand View gained breathing room in the top of the seventh with two runs coming in on a Schwirtz double! Wolver went three up, three down in the seventh to close out the win, 9-5.
GAME 2
Game two brought out the rally caps! The Vikings scored 20 runs in just three innings! Grand View had a six run first inning, followed by eight runs in the third, and another six runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jalen Aguiniga had two RBI's along with scoring twice in the game. Brock Rinehart had two RBIs of his own. Erik Broekemeier accounted for five runs, including three RBI's and brought in twice. Evan Borst continued his great day, reaching base every at bat in this one, with two RBI's and scoring twice. Hank Himrich was brought in twice as well and brought in three runs with his two hits. Brook Heinen contributed at the plate with two runs batted in as well and scored a run. That is six batters with multiple RBIs in the game!
During the Vikings slug fest, Noah Schlup earned a win with a great outing himself. He allowed just four hits in four innings and great fielding behind him to keep the Crimson Waves off the scoreboard. Wes Nelson came into relief and had his best stuff. Just 26 pitches to retire 6 batters straight and two strikeouts along with that. Cooper Smith came to a close in the seventh and earned two strikeouts himself. The Vikings won the second of the back-to-back meeting in a stunning fashion, 20-2.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will enjoy some rest Sunday before taking the field against Valley City State University on Monday, March 3rd. This will be the last of their stay in Davenport, Florida. The game will begin at 8:15 CST.
