DES MOINES, IA – With the conference tournament looming, Grand View used its final non-conference tune-up to build momentum in a big way, sweeping Saint Xavier in a home doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Vikings battled back from an early deficit to claim a 7-4 win in game one before edging the Cougars 3-2 in a tightly contested second game, finishing the day with a complete team effort powered by timely offense, clutch pitching, and a pair of dramatic comeback victories.
GRAND VIEW 7, SAINT XAVIER 4
Grand View wasted no time jumping in front in the opener. In the first inning,
Caedence Risius launched a two-run homer to left-center, scoring
Nevaeh Randall and giving the Vikings an early 2-0 advantage.
Saint Xavier answered in the third, stringing together a pair of doubles to plate four runs and take a 4-2 lead. The Cougars had seized momentum, but the Vikings responded immediately.
Grand View chipped away in the fourth when
Chloe Kottlowski lifted a sacrifice fly to score
Reese Cooley, and
Elle Nelsen followed with an RBI single to even the game at 4-4.
Then Risius struck again. In the fifth inning, she crushed her second home run of the afternoon — a solo shot to left-center — putting the Vikings back in front for good.
Grand View added insurance in the sixth. Nelsen ripped an RBI double to score
Halle Karaidos, and
Grace Anderson brought home another run on a pressure-filled bunt that forced a Saint Xavier error, extending the lead to 7-4.
The Vikings leaned on their pitching staff from there.
Claire Leinen entered in relief and steadied the game with two scoreless innings, while
Molly Breeding shut the door over the final 2.1 innings to earn the win. The duo combined to hold the Cougars scoreless over the final 4.1 frames.
Risius powered the offense with two home runs and three RBIs, while Nelson added two hits and two RBIs in a balanced nine-hit attack.
GRAND VIEW 3, SAINT XAVIER 2
Game two tested the Vikings once again. Saint Xavier capitalized on two Grand View miscues in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead, but the Vikings answered with poise.
Grand View got on the board in the second when
Gabriella Taber delivered a sacrifice fly to score
Alexia Jarrett. An inning later, Risius came through again, blasting a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2.
Deadlocked into the fifth,
Nevaeh Randall delivered the decisive swing of the game, launching a solo shot to left-center that gave the Vikings a 3-2 lead.
From there, the pitching took over. Risius was sharp in the circle, allowing just three hits and no earned runs across four innings while striking out four. Breeding followed with three scoreless innings in relief, punching out three and sealing her second win of the day.
Despite being outhit, Grand View made the big moments count, using two solo home runs and strong late pitching to complete the sweep.
The twin bill showcased resilience from a team peaking at the right time — rallying from deficits in both games and leaning on power, defense, and depth in the circle entering postseason play.
GAME NOTES
•
Molly Breeding earned wins in both games, moving to 5-3 on the season.
•
Caedence Risius hit three home runs on the day, driving in four runs.
•
Nevaeh Randall homered in game two and scored twice in the doubleheader.
•
Elle Nelsen tallied three hits and three RBIs across the two games.
• Grand View pitching allowed just two earned runs combined in the sweep.
• The Vikings closed the regular season with momentum heading into conference tournament play.
UP NEXT
Grand View turns its attention to the conference tournament in Cedar Rapids. The #3 seeded Vikings will play the #6 seed, William Woods on Thursday April 30
th with the first pitch to take place at 2:30PM.
