OSKALOOSA, IOWA - Grand View Softball bounced back on Saturday to earn a road split with William Penn, battling through an early deficit and a quiet start in the doubleheader. A frustrating opener saw the Vikings strand opportunities, while defensive miscues made the difference. But Game 2 told a different story, rooted in adjustments, resilience, and timely execution.
GAME 1 | WILLIAM PENN 3, GRAND VIEW 2
It was a game of missed chances and tight margins in the opener. Grand View mustered just two hits and scratched across both of its runs in the third inning, but couldn't overcome an early 3-0 deficit.
A leadoff single and a stolen base by the Statesmen put pressure on right away, with William Penn pushing a run across in the first before adding two more in the second off an error and RBI single to take a 3-0 lead.
The Vikings answered in the third, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch to
Reese Cooley and a sacrifice bunt by
Kylie Merical to get things rolling. An error extended the inning, scoring Cooley, and
Nevaeh Randall delivered the lone RBI hit for Grand View with a single to left, plating
Olivia Harmon.
Grand View had another chance in the fifth after Merical doubled to lead off, but couldn't bring her home. A final chance came in the seventh when
Mackenzie Meister walked and advanced to third on a passed ball and sacrifice bunt, but the Statesmen forced two outs to squash the opportunity.
Madi Huisman took the loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits across three innings.
Molly Breeding came in to shut the door the rest of the way, striking out four and allowing just one hit.
GAME 2 | GRAND VIEW 7, WILLIAM PENN 3
The nightcap flipped the script. Despite trailing 3-1 through three innings, Grand View stormed back with a five-run fifth and locked it down defensively from there.
William Penn struck early, forcing a Grand View pitching change after just two-thirds of an inning. But
Madeline Waldorf settled things down in relief, scattering three hits and striking out six over 5.1 innings of work.
Addison Halstead finished off the seventh cleanly to seal the win.
Offensively, the Vikings came alive in the third and fourth innings. Harmon singled and came around to score on a clutch RBI single from
Samantha Holbert. In the fourth, Cooley drew a walk and stole second before scoring on a two-out single from
Chloe Kottlowski.
But it was the fifth where the Vikings broke it open. After
Olivia Kyes led off with a single and stole second, Randall walked, and Holbert doubled down the line to drive in one.
Gabriella Taber followed with a hard single to right to plate another, and a wild sequence loaded the bases. Merical lifted a sac fly, and two more runs scored on a throwing error and a deep sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.
The defense turned a key double play in the seventh to squash any chance of a late Statesmen rally, slamming the door on Game 2 with confidence.
GAME NOTES
- Reese Cooley reached base four times, hitting 2-for-3, with 2 runs.
- Samantha Holbert went 2-for-6 across both games with a double and 2 RBIs.
- Grand View stole 6 bases in Game 2, led by Chloe Kottlowski with 2.
- Madeline Waldorf earned the win in Game 2 with 5.1 innings of one-run ball.
- The Vikings committed just two errors across the doubleheader, both in Game 1.
- Grand View outscored William Penn 9-6 on the day, despite being out-hit 14-13.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will get a short break before hosting Peru State College on Friday, April 25
th, for a 1:00 and 3:00 PM doubleheader.
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