CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Grand View Softball stayed hot in Heart of America Conference Tournament play Friday afternoon, earning a 5-2 win over Park University to remain unbeaten in the winner's bracket.
The Vikings got a game-changing performance out of the bullpen from
Addison Halstead, who fired three shutout innings to earn the win and keep Grand View's conference campaign alive. Halstead entered in the fifth and worked around three hits without allowing a run, improving to 3-0 on the season.
The effort backed up a solid start from
Madi Huisman, who returned to the circle just a day after tossing a complete-game shutout. Huisman went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts, giving Grand View a chance to regain control.
The Viking offense came through behind big swings from
Olivia Harmon and
Olivia Kyes, who each drove in two runs to lead the charge. Harmon sparked the scoring in the third, tripling to left to bring home
Chloe Kottlowski, then scoring on a sacrifice fly from Kyes to make it 2-0.
After Park tied the game with two solo home runs in the fourth, Grand View wasted no time answering. Huisman closed her outing strong with a pair of swinging strikeouts to end the inning, and the Vikings carried that momentum into the bottom half.
Kylie Merical led off with a single, and Harmon delivered again with an RBI single to center. Kyes followed with a double to drive in Harmon and restore a 4-2 lead.
Grand View added insurance in the sixth when Kottlowski knocked in
Mackenzie Meister with a single to right, giving Halstead extra breathing room to close out the game confidently.
GAME NOTES
- Addison Halstead earned her third win of the season with 3.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out one.
- Madi Huisman pitched 4.0 innings in the start, allowing two earned runs after going the full 7.0 innings in Thursday's shutout win.
- Olivia Harmon went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Olivia Kyes drove in two runs and finished 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly.
- Chloe Kottlowski added an RBI single and scored a run, reaching base twice.
- Grand View turned a double play and committed just one error defensively.
UP NEXT
Grand View advances in the Heart of America Conference Tournament and will continue play Saturday, May 3, in Cedar Rapids. The Vikings will face Baker University at 12:00 PM.
