[Softball] Eagles Top Vikings 4-2 in Extra Innings

Springfield, MO ­­– | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | Top-seeded Grand View dropped the semifinal game this afternoon to the No. 2 seed and 19t h nationally ranked Central Methodist in a close 4-2 (eight innings) battle at Killian Stadium Friday afternoon.

Grand view will have another chance to advance to the championship game as they will take on the winner of the Baker University and Avila University at 5 pm tonight.

Central Methodist jumped to a 2-0 lead to end the second inning. Grand View struggled to get the bats going but were able to tie the game up in the top of the seventh inning. Kate Crow (SR/Ames, Iowa) drew a leadoff walk with Wheelock coming in to pinch run. Kaylee Watson (FR/Stockport, IA) reached first on the fielder's choice, and Kristen Webb (SR/Pleasant Hill, IA) bunted and reached first on an Eagle error. Maddie Thilges (SO/Johnston, IA) grounded out, bringing in Wheelock for the first Viking run. Claudia Farrell (SR/Des Moines, IA) singled to shallow left, scoring Watson to tie the game 2-2 and send it into extra innings.

Senior pitcher, Claudia Farrell, along with the Viking defense retired 15 straight batters keeping the Vikings in the game. A walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth from Central Methodist's Hannah Steeby gave CMU the 4-2 victory.

Farrell struck out seven batters, allowing six hits and her first three earned runs of the tournament. Viking defense committed one error on the day. Watson and Farrell tallied the only two hits for the Vikings.