CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Grand View was on the doorstep in both games of Saturday's road doubleheader against Mount Mercy, but a pair of late breaks went the Mustangs' way as the Vikings dropped two hard-fought contests, falling 1-0 in game one and 5-4 in walk-off fashion in game two.
MOUNT MERCY 1, GRAND VIEW 0
Game one turned into a classic pitchers' duel as both teams traded zeros through six innings behind dominant performances in the circle.
Madeline Waldorf was outstanding, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing just two hits and no earned runs, striking out nine Mustangs and keeping Grand View in control throughout the afternoon. Mount Mercy starter Ashley Webb matched her pitch for pitch, despite the Vikings scattering seven hits.
Grand View threatened multiple times offensively. Elle Nelsen led the way with two hits, while Nevaeh Randall, Caedence Risius, Alexia Jarrett and Ceara Swanson each added base knocks, but the Vikings were unable to push a run across.
The deadlock held until the bottom of the seventh when Mount Mercy capitalized on an unearned opportunity, using an RBI single to left to plate the game's lone run and walk off with the opener.
Despite the loss, Grand View's defense and pitching were sharp throughout, as the Vikings held the Mustangs to just two hits in one of their strongest outings in the circle this season.
GAME ONE NOTES
• Waldorf struck out nine in 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits.
• Grand View outhit Mount Mercy 7-2.
• Nelsen recorded a multi-hit game.
• The Vikings held the Mustangs scoreless through six innings.
MOUNT MERCY 5, GRAND VIEW 4
The nightcap brought plenty of offense early, and Grand View battled back multiple times before Mount Mercy walked it off in the seventh.
The Vikings struck first in the opening inning when Jarrett delivered a two-run single to right center, bringing home Nevaeh Randall and Grace Anderson for a quick 2-0 lead.
Mount Mercy answered with three runs in the bottom half, but Grand View continued to respond. Anderson drove in a run in the second to tie the game at 3-3 before the Mustangs edged back in front in the bottom of the inning.
The Vikings evened things again in the fifth when Jarrett launched a solo home run to left center, knotting the game at 4-4 and giving Grand View new life heading into the late innings.
In the circle, Macy Blomgren delivered a strong relief outing after an early pitching change, working 4.2 innings and helping settle the game down. The Vikings carried the tie into the seventh before Mount Mercy strung together the deciding rally, pushing across the winning run on an RBI single for the walk-off victory.
Grand View totaled 10 hits in the loss, led by Jarrett's two-hit, three-RBI day. Anderson added two hits and an RBI, while Chloe Kottlowski went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
It was another game of resilience for the Vikings, but the late break favored the Mustangs in a second straight one-run decision.
GAME TWO NOTES
• Jarrett finished with two hits, three RBI and a home run.
• Kottlowski went 3-for-3 at the plate.
• Anderson collected two hits, an RBI and two stolen bases.
• Blomgren tossed 4.2 strong innings in relief with three strikeouts.
• Grand View outhit Mount Mercy 10-8.
UP NEXT
Grand View returns home looking to bounce back as the Vikings end their conference play in their next scheduled matchup against Clarke University at 1 & 3 PM.