NORWALK, IA – Grand View Softball delivered a dominant showing Friday afternoon, sweeping Peru State College in a doubleheader played in Norwalk. The Vikings controlled both games from the circle and at the plate, shutting out the Bobcats in back-to-back run-rule victories.
GAME 1 | GRAND VIEW 10, PERU STATE 0 (6 INNINGS) Grand View broke through in the fourth inning and never looked back, pairing timely hitting with a dominant pitching performance.
After three scoreless innings, Elle Nelsen sparked the offense with a leadoff walk and quickly stole second. Nevaeh Randall followed with a towering two-run home run to center field, giving the Vikings the early lead.
The rally continued as Reese Cooley worked a walk before Chloe Kottlowski drove her in with a double to right center. Ceara Swanson added another run with a single up the middle, and Caedence Risius capped the inning with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Madeline Waldorf was nearly untouchable in the circle. Waldorf racked up strikeouts at a relentless pace, stranding multiple Bobcat baserunners and keeping Peru State off the scoreboard.
The Vikings added insurance in the sixth inning. Risius led off with a double before Grace Anderson singled and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Alexia Jarrett drove in the first run of the frame with a single up the middle.
Moments later, Cooley delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a grand slam to left field to push the lead to 10-0.
Waldorf closed out her dominant outing with 14 strikeouts across five innings, allowing just one hit while walking four. Molly Breeding pitched a clean sixth inning to secure the shutout victory.
GAME 2 | GRAND VIEW 11, PERU STATE 0 (5 INNINGS) The Vikings carried their momentum straight into Game 2, erupting for four runs in the opening inning.
Grace Anderson started the rally with a single and stolen base before Elle Nelsen drew a walk. Randall reached on an error that allowed Anderson to score, and Alexia Jarrett followed with an RBI single to right field. A Bobcat throwing error allowed another run to cross before Gabriella Taber added an RBI single to cap the four-run frame.
Grand View continued to apply pressure in the second inning as Anderson singled again and later scored on Randall's RBI hit that carried into the outfield after an error.
In the third, Caedence Risius added to her standout day by launching a solo home run to center field. The Vikings extended the lead moments later as a pair of passed balls allowed two more runs to score.
The offense kept rolling in the fourth. Halle Karaidos walked and stole second before Jarrett crushed a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Bethany Button singled down the right-field line to drive in another run, pushing the score to 11-0.
Risius also impressed in the circle, striking out six batters over three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Macy Blomgren closed the game in dominant fashion, striking out five over the final two innings to secure the run-rule victory.
GAME NOTES
• Madeline Waldorf struck out 14 batters in five shutout innings in Game 1.
• Reese Cooley highlighted the opener with a grand slam and four RBIs.
• Caedence Risius contributed both in the circle and at the plate, hitting a home run in Game 2 while earning the pitching win.
• Alexia Jarrett finished Game 2 with a home run and three RBIs.
• Grace Anderson recorded three hits and three runs scored in the second game while stealing three bases.
• The Vikings combined for 21 hits and 25 runs across the doubleheader while allowing just two total hits.
• Grand View pitching struck out 25 Bobcat hitters in the two games.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will return to conference play as they continue their homestand next week against Graceland University at 1 & 3 PM CST on Tuesday March 17^th, if weather permits.