No. 16 Vikings Shut Down Softball in Doubleheader

by | Mar 14, 2018 | RRSN News | 0 comments

LAKELAND, Fla.—No. 16 Grand View University used two extraordinary pitching performances to stunt Southeastern’s offense in back-to-back competitions. The Vikings (10-2) blanked the Fire 3-0 in game one, while SEU (21-10) came up short in the second contest by a score of 7-3.
On a day where Southeastern was held scoreless in 13 of 14 innings, Grand View put pressure on the Fire defense early in the first game by getting the leadoff runner aboard in the first three frames. A Fire error in the top of the opening inning allowed the Vikings to get on the board first.
Ashley Appell and Claudia Farrell both pitched strong games for their respective teams in the circle. Appell (11-7) went the distance against the 16th-best team in the nation, allowing only six hits while striking out two and walking one.
Farrell (5-0) fooled Fire hitters nine times, giving up a mere four hits and five base runners in seven innings of work. Southeastern was unable to string together any offense against Farrell in the competition, as the pitcher lowered her already impressive 0.28 ERA with a shutout.
After getting the leadoff batter on base for the fourth time in the game in the seventh inning, a two-run blast down the left field line by Lexie Biehl sealed the competition for the Vikings 3-0.
Game two featured a hot start from GVU, who struck for six unanswered runs in the first two frames. Biehl led off the contest with a solo shot to center, while the Vikings tacked on five runs in the second thanks largely to two SEU mistakes to go up 6-0.
Following four-and-one-third innings of scoreless softball, the Fire finally broke through. Southeastern, who had only registered one hit in the previous four frames, strung together four consecutive base knocks in the bottom of the fifth.
Kristin Mihalic and Britt Robinson singled to get on base before Lauren Watters sent a ball back up the middle, scoring Mihalic and grabbing a run for SEU. After Heather Faulk singled through the left side, Haliegh Harrell brought Robinson home, cutting the deficit to four. Brandee Pietrzak then singled up the middle to drive in Watters, but that’s where the rally would be cut short.
The Fire had a hard time elevating any hard-hit balls, grounding into 15 putouts on the day.
Libby Yenger, who pitched for the Vikings in the second contest, retired seven of the next eight Fire batters to seal the 7-3 victory.
Dayna McDonald came out of the bullpen to deliver three-and-one-third innings in relief of Appell. The freshman gave up only three hits and a single run, while Kiah Ferrell closed out game two by collecting two frames of no-hit pitching.
The Fire will travel to Miami Gardens for a Sun Conference doubleheader against St. Thomas on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Related Stories

Big 7th Inning Propels Boone Grove to Second State Championship

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org INDIANAPOLIS - Thanks to a five-run seventh inning, Boone Grove completed its mission. The Wolves of second-year coach Sean Riley broke from a 1-1 tie with that five-run outburst and claimed the Class 2A state championship with a...

Indianapolis Lutheran routs Kouts for first baseball state championship

By Rich Torres, Special to IHSAA.org INDIANAPOLIS – With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Indianapolis Lutheran junior Gage Meaney reached second base for a third time Friday night, and the Saints’ fans packed inside Victory Field immediately rose to their feet....

58th annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals Preview

Rosters, statistics, season results and game notables for this weekend's 58th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals at Victory Field. News Release https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-25%20Baseball%20Preview.pdf

58th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals

Friday, June 20 Class 1A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Kouts (27-6) vs. Indianapolis Lutheran (20-10) Class 3A State Championship 8 pm ET / 7 CT | Andrean (30-3) vs. Jasper (28-6) Saturday, June 21 Class 2A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Boone...

Cathedral withstands late rally to win first softball crown

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Cathedral’s Anna Moore knew this was her time to come through for her team. Trailing Hanover Central, 2-1, in the fourth inning of the Class 3A championship game, Moore came to the plate with two on base. She...

Tecumseh wins sixth softball crown, first in Class 2A

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Class 1A or 2A, it doesn’t seem to matter for the Tecumseh Braves. Coach Gordon Wood’s top-ranked squad claimed its second-straight and sixth state championship in program history with a 2-0 victory over No. 3...

Crown Point’s Liezert strikes out 16, Bulldogs win second crown

By Rich Torres, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE – For some teams, a nearly 17-hour, overnight rain delay would derail anyone’s championship focus. For Class 4A Crown Point, Friday night’s postponement of the 40th annual IHSAA softball state finals into Saturday...

Rainford fans 17, North Newton secures first championship

By Will Willems, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Sydney Rainford was on a mission. After three years of disappointing post-season results, Rainford knew this was her last chance to achieve the ultimate goal with her North Newton Spartan teammates of winning the...