The Viking baseball team (17-14, 8-4 MCC) took to the road today to play the Saint Ambrose Bees at Modern Woodmen Park in MCC play. Both teams were able to connect for seven hits in game one, but the Vikings scored three times, while holding the home team to only one run. Even though Grand View was outhit in the second game, they were able to get the road sweep, winning 6-5.

Junior starting pitcher Austin Denny proved to be too much for the Bees as he gave Grand View six solid innings. Denny allowed only one earned run, striking out two and walking one. Closer Jason Davila entered in the bottom of the seventh and filled his role perfectly. Davila faced three Saint Ambrose batters and sent all three hitters to the bench without reaching base.

Offensively, Grand View scored twice in the top half of the first inning. Junior designated hitter Matt Dunn doubled with two outs, scoring Brady Wathen and Chris Cutler. Dunn provided another Viking run when he drove Cutler in on another two out single. Dunn led the Vikings in all offensive categories, accounting for three RBIs on two hits. .

In game two, Grand View's offense was able to score six times in seven innings, despite pounding out six hits. The Vikings were able to capitalize on six walks and one Saint Ambrose error. Once again, the Vikings scored a run in the top half of the first. The offensive hero in the first game came through again for the road team. Dunn drove home the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly. In the fourth inning, Brady Wathen drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch and senior Marc Mericle drove home the second run on a sacrifice fly.

The Vikings were able to score both fourth inning runs on only one. Leading 3-0 going into the fifth inning, the Vikings were quickly hit by an offensive explosion from the Bees. Saint Ambrose scored five times in the fifth on five hits. Trailing for the first time all day, Grand View scored once on a Mericle single and twice on Saint Ambrose errors to take a 6-5 advantage. Closer Jason Davilla came in for a two inning save, closing out the game to give the Vikings a 6-5 road victory. Mericle drove home two Viking runs on two hits. Kyler Morgan and Cutler scored twice each to lead the Vikings in runs scored.

The Vikings will take a break from Midwest Collegiate Conference competition when they travel to the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Grand View will play one game against Saint Francis on April 7th and a double header on April 8th.