Grand View Athletics
Kelsey Redmond
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Grand View softball concluded its 2022 season this evening as they fell 4-2 to Freed-Hardeman in the NAIA Softball World Series. The Vikings finished the season with an overall record of 46-12.
Hits were hard to come by in the first two innings as the pitchers combined for five strikeouts. The Vikings had an early look in the bottom of the first as the first three batters repeated last night’s opening frame beginning with Peyton Moffet (JR/Des Moines, IA) reaching after being hit by a pitch. Moffet then advanced to second and within scoring position on a sac bunt from Abby Sutten (JR/Altoona, IA), followed by a walk by Alyx Witt (SR/Norwalk, IA). Looking to get on the board with two on, a pair of strikeouts stranded the runners and sent the game into the top of the second, still scoreless.
Scoreless for two and a half more innings, Grand View looked to break the stalemate in the bottom of the fourth. Leading off was Witt as she reached first, then rounded to second on an error from the pitcher to kick things off. After a strikeout from Kaitlin Moses, Rachel Anderson (SO/Eldridge, IA) reached on a walk to put two Vikings on against the lone out. Pals flew out to centerfield for the second out as neither Witt nor Anderson was able to advance. A walk from Lauren Kuch (SR/Cedar Rapids, IA) loaded the bases for the Vikings as Julia Bastian (SR/Des Moines, IA) stepped up to the plate. Collecting her first hit of the World Series, and likely most important of her season, Bastian singled to left field driving in pinch-runners Kristin Garcia(JR/Berwyn, IL) and Kylie Merical (FR/Dallas Center, IA).
The lead wouldn’t last long as the Lions reeled off three runs in the top of the fifth to take a one-run advantage over Grand View. Pitcher Hannah Pals (JR/Des Moines, IA ) came up clutch in the top of the six as she recorded three timely strikeouts to strand both Lions on base as the deficit held at one going into the bottom of the inning. The Lions extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh as Grand View came down two it’s final three outs. Unable to respond, Grand View fell, 4-2.
The loss marks the end of the season for Grand View as they reached as high as No.10 during the regular season in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll and reached their first NAIA Softball World Series since 2006.