MARSHALL, MISSOURI – In their first Heart of America Conference doubleheader of the season, Grand View came out on top with a two-game sweep. The first game was a nail-biter as the Vikings fought through several errors, ultimately securing a 5-3 victory. In Game 2, Grand View turned up the heat, cruising to a 7-1 win.
GAME 1 | GRAND VIEW 5, MISSOURI VALLEY 3
Despite committing six errors, Grand View showed grit and determination, winning 5-3 over Missouri Valley in the first game of the doubleheader.
The Vikings struck first in the top of the first inning.
Olivia Kyes led off with a double, allowing
Samantha Holbert to bring her home with a single to right, giving Grand View a 1-0 lead.
Missouri Valley responded in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on two Viking errors and a single to tie the game at 1-1. However, Grand View regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a strong offensive display.
Olivia Harmon led off with a triple, and Kyes doubled to drive her in.
Nevaeh Randall followed with another double, advancing Kyes to third, before
Reese Cooley doubled, bringing both Kyes and Randall across the plate.
Kylie Merical then laid down a sacrifice bunt, bringing Cooley home for the final run of the inning and a 5-1 lead.
Missouri Valley tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of two more Grand View errors and a timely double to score two runs. But the Vikings tightened their defense, committing no further mistakes over the final two innings to hold on for the 5-3 win.
Madeline Waldorf picked up the win, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, and striking out nine.
Molly Breeding closed out the game with 1.2 scoreless innings.
Kyes was the standout offensive player, going 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI, and a run scored, while Cooley contributed two RBIs.
GAME 2 | GRAND VIEW 7, MISSOURI VALLEY 1
In a decisive 7-1 victory, Grand View completed its first conference sweep of the season, showcasing offensive power and solid pitching. The Vikings pounded out 13 hits, with key contributions from
Olivia Kyes, who tripled and scored twice, and
Nevaeh Randall, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
The game began quietly, with both teams failing to score in the first two innings. Grand View broke the stalemate in the third, capitalizing on an error and a pair of timely hits to take a 2-0 lead. Randall drove in a run with a double, and a walk later in the inning brought in Kyes, who had been hit by a pitch.
The Vikings added more runs in the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Randall's RBI single and
Reese Cooley's RBI double, extending the lead to 7-0 by the end of the sixth inning.
Missouri Valley's offense was stifled throughout the game, as Grand View pitchers
Madi Huisman and
Addison Halstead combined for a one-hitter through six innings. The only run for Missouri Valley came in the seventh inning off a double and a ground-out RBI.
Grand View's offensive depth was evident, with seven players recording at least one hit.
Mackenzie Meister added a double and scored, while
Gabriella Taber and
Aubree Foster contributed key singles late in the game.
The victory was highlighted by a perfect pitching performance from
Madi Huisman, who allowed no runs on seven hits and struck out eight in six innings of work. Halstead closed the game in the seventh, allowing two hits and one run.
GAME NOTES
- Olivia Kyes went 5-for-9 at the plate, with 2 doubles and 1 triple, scoring 5 runs and driving in 2 RBIs.
- Nevaeh Randall went 4-for-7 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs.
- Reese Cooley led with 4 RBIs.
- Strikeouts were a significant factor, with Madeline Waldorf striking out 9 in Game 1 and Madi Huisman striking out 8 in Game 2.
- Grand View's defense improved in Game 2, committing just 1 error.
- The Vikings totaled 21 hits across the two games.
UP NEXT
Grand View will continue Heart of America Conference play next Saturday, March 29th, as the Vikings host Park University for their home opener. The games are set for 1:00 and 3:00 PM at Richard O. Jacobson Field in Des Moines, IA.
