OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. – Grand View opened NAIA Opening Round play on Monday afternoon with a heavyweight battle against No. 3 seeded Blue Mountain Christian. In a tense pitcher's duel that featured little room for error, the Vikings delivered when it mattered most, walking off the Toppers 2-1 in the seventh inning to advance in the winners bracket.
GRAND VIEW 2, BLUE MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN 1
Both teams traded zeros through the first two innings as the game quickly settled into a defensive battle.
Madeline Waldorf was sharp from the start for the Vikings, matching Blue Mountain Christian ace Neely Cooper pitch for pitch while keeping one of the tournament's top offenses in check.
The Toppers broke through in the third inning when Mikaylah Fuqua delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Laklyn Nichols and give Blue Mountain Christian a 1-0 advantage. Despite the run, Waldorf limited the damage and continued to attack the strike zone, allowing Grand View to stay within striking distance.
From there, the Vikings' pitching and defense took over.
Waldorf worked efficiently through six innings, scattering five hits while striking out five and allowing just one run. Grand View's defense backed her up all afternoon, turning a double play and playing error-free softball in a game where every out proved crucial.
The Vikings continued searching for a breakthrough offensively against Cooper, who kept Grand View off the board into the seventh inning. But with the season's biggest moment looming, the Vikings responded.
Caedence Risius started the rally by reaching base, and
Gabriella Taber followed with a single to put pressure on the Toppers' defense. After
Halle Karaidos entered as a pinch runner,
Ceara Swanson came through with a clutch RBI single through the left side, bringing home Risius to tie the game at 1-1 and ignite the Grand View dugout.
Moments later,
Chloe Kottlowski delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon.
Kottlowski lined a single through the left side to score Karaidos from third, sealing a dramatic walk-off victory for the Vikings and sending Grand View into the winners bracket of the Opening Round tournament.
Molly Breeding earned the win after tossing a clean seventh inning in relief, striking out one and retiring all three batters she faced.
Grand View finished with five hits in the victory. Swanson and Kottlowski each collected game-tying and game-winning RBIs in the seventh, while Taber, Risius, and Jarrett also added hits.
GAME NOTES
•
Madeline Waldorf allowed just one run across 6.0 strong innings while striking out five.
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Molly Breeding earned the win with a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
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Ceara Swanson recorded the game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning.
•
Chloe Kottlowski delivered the walk-off RBI single to secure the victory.
• Grand View played error-free defense and turned a double play.
• The Vikings advanced in the winners bracket with the Opening Round win.
UP NEXT
Grand View advances in the winners bracket and will face the University of British Columbia on Tuesday, May 12 at 4:00 PM in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
