DES MOINES, IOWA – Grand View hosted Clarke University for a four-game series but they skipped the weekend. The Vikings played a doubleheader on Friday, and their second doubleheader on Monday. GV took the two games on Friday which included a walk off single in outing number one. The Monday doubleheader found another competitive contest as the Vikings put a complete game together on both sides and a 7-4 win. Grand View kept it going in game four with resilience and a strong closing from Jacob Wolver.
FRIDAY
GAME 1
The Vikings started Kaleb Krier who entered the contest 5-0 on the season. Krier cruised through the first five innings of the day. Clarke only managed two runs on six hits and Krier found two strikeouts in the process.
The Vikings started off hot from the plate. Dane Schwirtz got the Vikings started with a single and Brock Rinehart earned himself a walk. Connor Canny came in to pinch run and Schwirtz sat at second when Evan Borst came to the dish. Borst didn't wait to take advantage of the wind and blasted a high fly ball that entered the softball outfield. Borst brought in three RBIs with one swing to go up 3-0.
The second inning was more fun for the Vikings dugout, as they picked up five more runs in the bottom of the inning. Schwirtz singled through the right side on a hard-hit ground ball which brought in Bryce Stalder and Carson Wadel. Rinehart followed that up with a three-run shot that left The Lou in a hurry. Fast forward to the bottom of the fifth and Rinehart helped pad the lead again, with a solo homerun. The lead was 9-2 after five.
Clarke clawed their way back into the contest in the top of the sixth. Krier walked a couple which loaded the bases for Devin Doyle to relieve in the middle of the inning. Doyle came in with a tall task and the Pride took advantage with a six-run inning that brought them within one. Borst came in to pitch in the top of the 7th to close but a clutch double from Crowder put the Vikings down one in the final inning of play.
Grand View needed to find life in the bottom of the 7th and who other than Rinehart. Clarke's closer came in to pitch and Rinehart was not fazed. He led off the inning with an opposite-field shot that left the stadium! This tied the game at 10 and the Vikings didn't have extra innings in mind. Himrich reached based on an overthrew to first, but his strong efforts allowed him to reach second and was sitting at second as the go-ahead runner. Brook Heinen didn't let the opportunity slip. Heinen delivered a single down the left field line on a 3-2 pitch and Himrich stormed home! A walk off for Heinen and the Vikings took game one 11-10!
GAME 2
The second game started with Jason Moist on the mound and he fired three straight outs at the top of the first. Clarke found a rally in the top of the second though. Moist gave up four runs in the inning with two hits and an error on the Vikings defense. From that point forward, Moist was exceptional. He gave up just one other hit in the next two innings and kept the Pride at four runs.
The Vikings had a steady pace on offense in the second game. GV brought in a run on a solo shot from Rinehart in the first inning. That was Rinehart's fourth homerun of the day. Grand View found two more single-shot home runs in the second from Himrich and Wadel, who found his first of the season. In the bottom of the third, the Vikings found the lead again with a Heinen two RBI double that ran down the left field line. GV earned two more runs for the third straight inning when Broekemeier brought in Johnson on a fielder's choice, and Borst doubled to bring home Canny.
Senior, Noah Kueter, came in to relieve Moist in the top of the fifth. Kueter showed poise as he gave up a hit and a walk but stranded them both. Clarke earned a single in the top of the sixth as well, but Kueter with a savvy pick of move to catch Brooks at first and ended the inning.
The Vikings separated themselves in the bottom of inning number five, as the team rallied four runs on just two hits in the inning but patience at the plate. GV earned three walks in the inning and RBI's from a Johnson single up the middle, and a three run RBI double by Broekemeier that walked the left field line. This left the game at 11-4.
Jacob Wolver came in to close the game for GV and struck out two batters early. The Pride ended up with a two RBI double with two outs in the inning. Kueter popped up the final batter to finish the game and the doubleheader with a score of 11-6, GV.
MONDAY
GAME 3
The Vikings resumed action on Monday after Iowa's weather calmed down over the weekend. Alex Foster got the start in game three of the series against Clarke. Foster allowed a leadoff double and quickly had runners at the corners with no outs. Foster forced a ground ball for the Vikings to go 4-6-3 and they traded two outs for a run in the first. Foster had smooth sailing in inning number two with a pair of strikeouts as well.
Clarke had a pitching change after just one inning and GV adjusted well. Grand View loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a base hit from Evan Borst. Bryce Stalder was eager at the plate with runners on, and took advantage of the first pitch, driving it through the 3-4 hole and earned 2 RBI's and the lead for GV. Brock Johnson stayed patient and loaded the bases back up with just one out for Schwirtz. He delivered with another two RBI single that one hopped to the right fielder. Runners at the corners as Rinehart stepped into the batter's box and earned himself a second hit of the ball game with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Two pop ups ended the inning but a 5-1 was secured after two.
Foster ran into some trouble in the top of the third with a couple hits from The Pride and a costly error. Foster made some great pitches, but a soft fly ball found an opening to bring in two runs. Foster found himself in a high stress situation later in the inning, with bases loaded but two outs. Foster showed his poise with a 3-2 pitch that left the batter stuck in the dirt. The lead was cut to just one for GV after 2 ½. Foster rebounded with a quick fourth inning and gave up just one runner.
Schlup came in for relief in the top of the fifth and was trending toward a bind early, with two on and none away. The Vikings turned two with a beautiful leaping grab from Wadel in the hot corner and a toss to second to get the tagging runner. Schlup pitched the top half of the sixth as well and with a runner at third, made a batter chase off speed in the dirt, to retire the side.
Grand View had a spark in the bottom of the fourth as Johnson got things started when he was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Rinehart moved him to third on a single and runners were at the corners for Broekemeier. He sent a deep sac fly out to right field to add a run on the tally. Canny soon after, stole second and advanced to third on a E2 as he pinch ran for Rinehart. Borst smoked one into left but found the fielder to end the inning. GV continued to pressure the Clarke defense as Himrich singled to start the inning and a sacrifice bunt from Heinen moved him over to second, but GV stalled out.
The bottom of the sixth got going with a Rinehart bunt down the third baseline for a base hit. Borst stepped into the box with two runners on and earned an RBI single to bring in pinch runner, Canny. This extended the lead to three as GV entered the final inning.
Devin Doyle came in to close for the Vikings and did just that. Doyle served two strikeouts to start the inning, and one out remained. Doyle forced a ground ball that was fielded by Borst cleanly and game three went to Grand View, 7-4.
GAME 4
Grand View struck first in the final game of the conference series with four runs in the first inning. Rinehart drove in the first run with a single to right field. Canny pinch ran and found his way around the bases and home on a passed ball. Borst poked a single through the middle of the infield for a single and brought in Broekemeier. Borst then scored from first on a triple from Heinen that hit the middle of the right field fence.
The top of the second was the biggest inning from Clarke in the series. Jacob Draeger was the starter in this one and after a solid first inning, he found struggles against the lineup. Clarke had three hits but reached base on walks and a couple batters hit by pitch. Logan Smith came in for Draeger to finish the inning and gave up a big double down the line in left, before he got the Vikings out of the inning. GV now trailed 4-8.
GV fought hard to climb back in this one and it started in the bottom of the third. Grand View loaded the bases with no outs, and Heinen brought in Broekemeier on a sacrifice fly to right field. Wadel was up next and took a pitch to the jersey that loaded the bases again. Stalder walked up next and watched a passed ball that let all runners advance which allowed Borst to cross home plate. Then Stalder lifted a ball deep into the gap in right center to tie the game on a two RBI double. Grand View was now knotted at eight.
After a great inning from Smith, the Vikings found themselves back on offense and Broekemeier took things into his own hands. Broekemeier sent a ball deep towards the gap in left center and it cleared the fence for a HR and the lead for GV, 9-8.
Kueter came in for Smith after his great relief, and got to work Kueter surrendered a couple hits and was in a jam with runners on first and third with two gone. Kueter found the outside corner on a fastball and earned a backwards K to end the front half of the fifth without a blemish. Kueter kept up his fight in the sixth. Clarke found two singles that got through the infield and then a passed ball had the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second base with just one away in the inning. Kueter gave up a walk to load the bases and Jacob Wolver came into relief in a bases loaded situation. Wolver delivered a pitch that went into shallow left for the second out and the throw from Himrich held the runner at third base. Wolver showed poise in the next at-bat, with the bases loaded and a full count pitch. Wolver won the dual with a swung-on strike three to get out of the inning with the lead intact!
The Vikings were on the hunt for some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth. Rinehart gave Grand View a base runner early with a walk on a great at-bat. Borst earned an infield base hit that was fielded deep into the hole at shortstop. The Himrich added to the lead with a single through the 4-3 gap! Canny came from second to score. Heinen went opposite field after Clarke changed pitchers and found a single that loaded the bases. Clarke stop our momentum after that and Grand View entered the top of the 7th with a two run lead.
Wolver stayed in to close for the game and the series for the Vikings. Wolver threw strikes and challenged the lineup. The field backed him up with great execution to keep the lead right where it was at and earned himself a save. The Vikings take game four 10-8 and sweep the series.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View has a quick turnaround as the team travels to Briar Cliff tomorrow, April 1st. They will play a doubleheader starting at 1 PM.
