OTTAWA, KANSAS – Grand View Softball came away with a split against Ottawa on Saturday, winning Game 1 in a 9-7 battle before falling 10-2 in Game 2. The Vikings' offense clicked in the opener, tallying 13 hits and holding off a late Braves rally. However, Ottawa responded in the rematch, using a big second inning to put the game out of reach early.
GAME 1 | GRAND VIEW 9, OTTAWA 7
Grand View set the tone early in Game 1, using timely hitting and aggressive baserunning to claim a 9-7 victory over Ottawa. The Vikings jumped ahead in the second inning when
Kylie Merical ripped a double to center, bringing home
Mackenzie Meister for a 1-0 lead.
The momentum carried into the third as Grand View capitalized on an error to put runners in scoring position.
Nevaeh Randall drove in
Olivia Harmon with a single before stealing second, and
Samantha Holbert followed with an RBI single to score Randall. Merical then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, bringing in their final run of the inning to extend the lead to 4-0.
Ottawa got on the board with a run in the third, but Grand View padded its lead in the sixth, highlighted by
Chloe Kottlowski's single that set up Randall to launch a two-run homer to center, making it 7-1. However, the Braves responded with a five-run bottom half, cutting the Vikings' lead to just one.
With the pressure on in the seventh, Grand View delivered.
Lark Drake scored on a stolen base before Kottlowski's RBI single gave the Vikings breathing room at 9-6. Ottawa scratched across one more run in the bottom of the inning, but
Molly Breeding shut the door to secure the save and the win.
The Vikings' pitching staff combined to work through a tough Ottawa lineup.
Madeline Waldorf earned the win, allowing just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings.
Claire Leinen provided crucial relief, striking out three in 2.1 innings, while
Molly Breeding closed the door in the seventh, picking up her first save of the season.
GAME 2 | OTTAWA 10, GRAND VIEW 2 (5 INNINGS)
Grand View struggled to contain Ottawa's early offensive surge, falling 10-2 in five innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Braves jumped ahead with three runs in the first and broke the game open with a six-run second inning.
The Vikings got on the board in the third when
Nevaeh Randall doubled and came around to score on a
Samantha Holbert RBI double. Holbert later crossed the plate on a
Mackenzie Meister single, cutting the deficit to 9-2, but that was all Grand View could manage against Ottawa's pitching.
Molly Breeding took the loss, allowing six runs in 1.1 innings before
Alyssa Brant came in for relief. The Vikings were held to five hits, with Holbert leading the way at 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
GAME NOTES
- Nevaeh Randall had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-6 across both games with a home run, a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Samantha Holbert provided key offensive production, finishing 4-for-7 with two doubles and three RBIs.
- Kylie
- Grand View's offense tallied 18 hits on the day, including 7 extra-base hits.
- The Vikings stole an impressive 8 bases on the day, led by Lark Drake, Mackenzie Meister, and Kylie Merical each with 2.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will host Saint Ambrose University Sunday, March 9
th, at Fareway Fields in Norwalk, IA for a double-header. Game times are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 PM on Field 7.
Fareway Fields Address | 1951 E 18th St, Norwalk, IA 50211
