ATCHISON, KANSAS – The Vikings picked up yet another conference sweep—this time on the road—as they handled the Ravens with ease in Saturday's doubleheader. Grand View faced some early pressure but never wavered, locking in on both sides of the ball to earn 5-1 and 4-2 wins over R.V. Benedictine College.
GAME 1 | GRAND VIEW 5, BENEDICTINE 1
A late-game spark and a complete-game effort from
Madeline Waldorf helped Grand View take down Benedictine 5-1 in the opener at Ravens Field.
Both teams were scoreless through the first two innings until Benedictine broke through in the third with a leadoff double and an RBI single to go up 1-0.
Grand View threatened in the bottom half with singles from
Olivia Harmon and
Nevaeh Randall but left the bases loaded. The Vikings finally cashed in during the fifth.
Chloe Kottlowski laid down a bunt single, and Harmon followed with a sacrifice bunt.
Olivia Kyes then singled and advanced to second on the throw, putting two in scoring position. Randall tied the game with a sac fly, and
Samantha Holbert followed with an RBI single to put Grand View in front, 2-1.
Waldorf retired the side in order in the sixth, and the Vikings added insurance in the seventh. Harmon drew a leadoff walk, and Kyes laid down her second sacrifice bunt of the day. Randall singled to left, putting runners at the corners, and Holbert delivered again with an RBI double.
Gabriella Taber capped the scoring with a base hit up the middle, scoring two as Holbert came home on an infield error.
Waldorf shut the door in the bottom of the seventh, stranding two to secure the win. She went the distance, allowing one run on seven hits with three strikeouts, no walks, 13 flyouts, and five groundouts.
Holbert led the offense with a 3-for-4 game, including a double, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Randall added two hits, an RBI, and a run scored, while Kyes and Harmon chipped in with key hits and sacrifices.
GAME 2 | GRAND VIEW 4, BENEDICTINE 2
Grand View secured a hard-fought win in Game 2, using a late push to come out on top 4-2 and complete the sweep.
Both teams were quiet through the first two innings before the Vikings broke through in the third.
Olivia Kyes was hit by a pitch and stole second, setting up
Nevaeh Randall, who legged out an infield single to third and drove in Kyes for a 1-0 lead.
Benedictine answered in the fourth, capitalizing on a Grand View error and tying the game on an RBI single to make it 1-1.
The Vikings bounced back in the sixth. Randall singled down the left field line and stole second, then came home on a double to left-center from
Gabriella Taber to put Grand View back in front, 2-1.
Benedictine quickly responded in the bottom half, using a leadoff walk and an RBI double to even things up again. But the Vikings buckled down, stranding the bases loaded to keep the score tied heading into the seventh.
That's when Grand View pulled ahead for good.
Reese Cooley singled up the middle, and
Kylie Merical reached on an error, moving Cooley to third.
Chloe Kottlowski followed with a single through the right side to bring Cooley home, and Harmon added a sacrifice fly to score Merical and make it 4-2.
Madi Huisman tossed a complete game for the Vikings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits. She walked four, struck out none, and kept the Ravens off balance with 14 flyouts and seven groundouts.
Randall led the offense once again with a 2-for-3 outing, adding an RBI and a run scored. Taber chipped in a double and an RBI, while Kottlowski and Harmon each delivered clutch seventh-inning RBIs.
GAME NOTES
- Nevaeh Randall had a standout day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Samantha Holbert sparked the offense in Game 1, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run.
- Grand View totaled 14 hits in the series and committed just one defensive error.
- The Vikings stranded 18 Raven baserunners across both games.
- Madeline Waldorf and Madi Huisman anchored the Grand View defense with two strong performances in the circle.
UP NEXT
Grand View will face a tough test tomorrow, Sunday, April 13, as they head to Fayette, Missouri, to take on No. 6 Central Methodist. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 PM.
