[Softball] Vikings Season Comes to a Close at National Tournament Opening Round

Oklahoma City, OK –  Grand View softball ended their 2018 season after falling to two-time defending national champions Oklahoma City University 3-0 in the 2018 NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket. The Vikings did not end their season without setting new records and becoming the best team to pass through Grand View softball.

Grand View ended the season with a 48-10 record, claiming both the 2018 Heart of America Regular Season and Tournament titles. They are also the first time to win more than one game in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Bracket.

No. 2-seed Grand View dropped to host school and top-seed, Oklahoma City University in the bracket championship Wednesday afternoon at Ann Lacy Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK.

Viking defense played lights out committing only one error on nine hits. OKC was able to put runners on base throughout the game but the Vikings held them from scoring until the sixth inning when the Stars were able to put three runs on the board.

Offensively Grand View recorded five hits lead by Lauren Poortinga (JR/Des Moines, IA) who tallied two. Lexi Merritt (SO/Waukee, IA), Kristen Webb (SR/Pleasant Hill, IA), and Kate Crow (SR/Ames, Iowa) also recorded one hit apiece.

Claudia Farrell (SR/Des Moines, IA) threw her last game as a Viking, striking out four and facing 28 at-bats. Farrell ends her career as the best pitcher to step on the mound for the Vikings, pitching a career record of 104-20 and earning over 1,000 strikeouts.  She ends the season ranked No. 2 in the NAIA for earned run average (0.860), No. 4 in wins (29) and No. 5 in both opp batting average (0.168) and in hits allowed (4.18).

Merritt ends the season ranked No. 3 in the NAIA in total doubles (25). As a team, the Vikings in the season ranked No. 6 in the NAIA in total batters struck out (369), No. 8 in opp batting average (0.211) and No. 9 in ERA (1.730).