CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA – Grand View took on the host University of Science and Arts (Okla.) again in the Opening Round Final. Grand View took the field first and played the home team role because of their undefeated record to the finals. The Vikings are just one game away from clinching a spot in the NAIA World Series. After dropping the first game today, the win or go home game was at display. The Vikings bounced back with a great effort from freshman, Madeline Waldorf at the mound. The Vikings advanced to the World Series as they won the Opening Round region, fending off the No. 1 ranked team in the country twice in three contests.
VIKINGS 7, DROVERS 10
Madi Huisman was the pitcher once again and has been outstanding in the postseason. Huisman earned two quick outs in the first which included a great catch at the hot corner from Olivia Kyes. The Drovers with a two out rally to take an early 2-0 lead.
Huisman gave up just one more run in the top of the third and Molly Breeding came in to relieve and get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Vikings finally found some life! Kottlowski found a bunt single to lead of the inning and Olivia Harmon ripped a single to right field. Kyes laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners in scoring position and Nevaeh took advantage. With one swing, Randall tied the ball game up and threes lined on scoreboard. 3-3 the score in the bottom of the third.
Nothing going until the top of the fifth. Breeding with such good pitches but one hiccup during the inning that surrendered a run. Breeding struck out three batters to get out of the inning and Vikings now trailed 4-3.
IN the bottom of the fifth, Kyes got on when she was hit by a pitch and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with just one away. Randall battled in a great at-bat and earned a walk to put to aboard. Samantha Holbert took a pitch to the elbow as well and now the bases were loaded for Ella Taber. Taber hit a rifle to the pitcher and though a great snag was made, the Drovers pitcher fired to third to complete a double play and overthrew third. The passed ball at third allowed for Kyes to jet home and tie the ball game a four a piece! Reese Cooley didn't want the momentum to end and delivered on another great at-bat. Cooley put a great rip on a ball that got through the middle of the infield and brought home two RBIs! Grand View took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, 6-4.
Addison Halstead took over in the circle and she had some help in the top of the sixth! A Drover batter launched a ball that traveled over Taber's head but a great effort on a relay from the fence in right was in time for Kyes to put the tag on at third and eliminate the base runner. Soon after, with a runner on third, Randall played a bunt perfectly and caught the runner between third and home plate. Though Grand View surrendered the one run, the field did a tremendous job to keep the lead, 6-5.
Grand View entered the top of the seventh inning with a one run lead and Halstead stayed out to close things off. Grand View gave up one run that tied the ball game and bases were loaded with no outs. Another hit allowed for a run and now the lead shifted to USAO.
Madi Huisman reentered the game in a jam and allowed three more to cross the plate before getting out of the inning which included two strikeouts. The Vikings trailed 6-10.
A last effort for the Vikings in the seventh was met without a Holbert solo home run but that's all GV could get and the 7-10 final pushed the Opening Round to a final, win or go home match up.
VIKINGS 3, DROVERS 1
Madeline Waldorf started for the Vikings. Waldorf let up an early base hit but settled in, with a couple ground outs and her first strikeout of the afternoon.
Olivia Harmon started the Vikings off with a two-strike, base knock to center field. Harmon advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt executed by Kyes. Randall stepped into the batter's box in the three hole and punched a liner out to center field. Harmon came around third and made a slide at the plate but was tagged out on a bang, bang play. Holbert started how she ended game one today. Holbert clocked a two RBI home run to put GV out in front early.
In the top of the third inning, Waldorf found her first real hump to climb as Drover loaded the bases but two outs on the board. Madeline delivered a ball that popped the batter straight up and great concentration from Kottlowski to end the inning.
Grand View tried getting a rally going in the bottom of the third with a two out double by Randall. The Drovers chose to put Holbert on first to have force outs at the bags and Taber just missed a pitch that she popped up to left field and the inning ended dry.
The fourth inning had more trouble for the Viking starter, but Waldorf continued to show poise in high pressure moments. With an early base runner and then runners at second and third, Madeline limited the damage to just one run and kept the lead in tac, 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Grand View had two quick outs before Meister found a spot in left field to drop in a single and keep the inning alive. With an opportunity lurking, Kottlowski took advantage with a drive up the middle for an RBI and a Viking 3-1 lead.
Waldorf was back at it in the top of the fifth and showed heart all game long. With a runner early in the inning again, Waldorf fielded a dribbler to her left side to retire the first out. Kyes made the second out with a great throw to first and with a runner on third, Madeline delivered a fly ball that Harmon fought the sun off to capture.
A couple hard struck balls in the sixth and seventh innings but nothing doing for the Vikings.
Waldorf stayed out in the circle to close things off for the Vikings. The first at-bat punched a bunt down the first base line but a great field and tag from Randall retired out number one. The second out came on a fly out that Harmon took care of. The parents were on their feet for the final out and Waldorf finished in dominant fashion. A backwards K ended the game and the tournament as Grand View hoisted the Opening Round Champion trophy! The Vikings punched their stay in Columbus, Georgia.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View will now compete in the NAIA World Series starting May 22nd. The Vikings are an elite company as the top 10 schools in the country will compete to crown an NAIA National Champion.
