With the 13-2 victory against Viterbo University, Grand View advanced to face top seeded Iowa Wesleyan, with the winner advancing to the title game on Tuesday night. The second seeded Vikings saved their best for the last against the Tigers, scoring six times in the final two innings.
Iowa Wesleyan finished game six of the Midwest Collegiate Conference with 16 hits and an outstanding pitching performance from Evan Cunningham. Although neither were enough to keep the Vikings from advancing to the title game on Tuesday night, as Grand View won the contest 6-5.
The Tigers were in complete control of the contest through seven innings, but the pesky Vikings were not willing to give in without putting up a fight. With a 5-0 lead going into the eighth inning, Iowa Wesleyan's starter had struck out 13 Vikings hitters and allowed only three hits. But the Grand View hitters were able to score three times in the eighth on three hits and one walk.
The offensive attack began with one out when Marc Mericle tripled down the right field line. Mericle then scored when Matt Dunn singled to center field. Following a Curtis Quijano bases on balls and a Brady Wathen strike out, Jeff Brooks kept the inning and scoring alive with a double. Brooks' double scored both Quijano and Dunn, to narrow the gap to 5-3.
Trailing by two runs and with only three outs left to play, the Tigers defense became shaky and the Vikings offense became opportunistic. With one out an error allowed Chris Cutler to reach first base, but he was cut down at second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of Mericle. Dunn and Quijano followed with two perfectly placed base hits to load the bases for Grand View's Wathen. Wathen grounded to third base, but a wide throw to first allowed all three Vikings runners to score, including the winning run all the way from first base.
Grand View was able to avenge three regular season losses to the Tigers behind two hits apiece from Dunn and Cutler. Senior Jeff Brooks led the Vikings with two RBIS on one hit, while Michael Bennion gained the victory, pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
With the win the Vikings advance to the Midwest Collegiate Conference championship game on Tuesday, May 11th. Grand View will face the either Saint Ambrose, Viterbo or Iowa Wesleyan in the championship game with an automatic trip to the NAIA National Tournament on the line.
