[Softball] Vikings Defeat Graceland 12-0 in First Game, Second Game Suspended

Des Moines, Iowa – Grand View softball defeated Graceland University 12-0 on Thursday, April 5th as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Due to extended innings and darkness, game two has been suspended until the teams meet again, April 26 in Lamoni, IA. The Vikings advance to a 20-4 over record and 10-2 in conference play. 

Game One | Grand View – 12, Graceland – 0 |

Vikings got things started in the first inning scoring two runs when Kristen Webb (SR/Pleasant Hill, IA) singled. Grand View kept their bats hot in the second inning when Lexie Biehl (SR/Maquoketa, IA), Kate Crow (SR/Ames, Iowa), and Kaylee Watson (FR/Stockport, IA) each had RBIs in the big inning. Graceland had a pitcher change in the – inning, but it did not stop the Vikings.

Claudia Ferrell led things off on the rubber for the Vikings. She went three innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out eight and walking zero. Halle Still (JR/Moville, IA) came in to pitch in the fourth inning and allowed zero runs on one hit, walked two and struck out one.

The Vikings racked up 13 hit in the game. Webb, Lexi Merritt (SO/Waukee, IA), and Watson each managed multiple hits for Grand View. Merritt and Webb each had three hits to lead the Vikings.

Game Two | Grand View – 5, Graceland – 5 | suspended till April 26 

Game Two is tied 5-5 in the tenth inning. Due to darkness, the game was suspended and will be continued on Sunday, April 8th in Lamoni prior to the doubleheader that starts at 1:00 pm.  

Graceland got on the board first with one run scored in the third inning on a Vikings error. The Yellowjackets scored four more runs in the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-0. Libby Yenger (JR/Indianola, IA) ended the inning with a strikeout and the Vikings went to work at bat. Maddie Thilges (SO/Johnston, IA) hit a grand slam with one out to make the score 5-4. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Biehl hit a single home run to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

The eighth and the ninth innings were scoreless, and the game was called due to darkness before the top of the tenth inning started.

Yenger started on the mound for the Vikings allowing five runs on six hits, two walks, and struck out three. Ferrell came to the rubber in the sixth inning allowing zero runs on one hit, two walks and struck out seven.

Up Next: Due to weather, Saturday, April 7, games vs William Penn have been rescheduling to Monday, April 16. Game times are 3 & 5. Also, Sunday, April 8, games at Graceland are rescheduled for Thursday, April 26. Game times and bus time to be determined. Monday, April 9, games vs St Mary's have been canceled, no makeup.

The Vikings will travel to Peru Nebraska, April 10, to take on Peru State College in their next competition.