CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA – Grand View traveled down to Oklahoma for the opening round of the NAIA national tournament this week. Grand View served as the 2-seed in the four-team pool. The Vikings took the field for game one on Monday against 3-seed, Freed-Hardeman University Lions.
GRAND VIEW 8, FREED-HARDEMAN 0
GV opened the game in the field today on a clear sky night at Bill Smith Ballpark. Madi Huisman made the start and after giving up a hit to start the game, she earned three outs including a strikeout.
Olivia Harmon did her lead-off duties with a hit up the middle. She advanced shortly after with a stolen base to get into scoring position. Olivia Kyes earned herself a walk on a full count pitch, which put runners on first and second with no outs. Nevaeh Randall earned herself a walk as well, and the bases were loaded early for the Vikings catcher, Samantha Holbert. Holbert took advantage of a pitch early in the count and a GRAND SLAM for number 28! Four runs came across early in the inning and a loud cheer from the Vikings family that traveled down to support. Reese Cooley reached next on a walk, and Kylie Merical followed with a double that put runners back in scoring position but couldn't capitalize on any more runs.
Huisman continued with a great 1-2-3 second inning including two more strikeouts and mixed up her pitches well. In the top of the third, Kyes made a great backhand down the third baseline and a wonderful throw to keep the Lions off the bases. Huisman added her fourth strikeout to end the third inning.
To start the bottom of the third, Holbert kept her bat hot with a leadoff double into the gap in left-center. With two outs, Kylie Merical traded places on a line drive to left that sparked the chalk line and gave the Vikings a 5-0 advantage.
Great fielding in the fourth inning as great plays were made by Kyes, Merical, and fly ball tracked down a long way by Ella Taber to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Olivia Harmon got on with a walk and Kyes hit a ball hard to right field but was straight to the fielder for out number two. Then with two outs, Randall launched a ball that cleared the right-center field fence and put the Vikings up 7-0! Holbert kept the inning alive on a walk and then Taber reached on an infield single but that's where the fun halted.
Huisman dominated the top of the fifth with another three up, three down half inning.
Grand View had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the fifth. With a walk and a fielder's choice, the Vikings had runners at the corners with just one out. With a steal from Kottlowski, runners were at second and third and Olivia Harmon brought in Merical from third on a hard-hit ball to center field. The Vikings earned themselves an 8-0 first game win in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
The Vikings will play the second game of the NAIA Opening Round, tomorrow at12:00 PM. They will play the top seed in the pool, University of Science and Arts (Okla.).
