CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- In their first round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament, #6 seeded William Woods fell short in a pitcher's duel to the #3 seeded Vikings of Grand View University.
Neither team were able to get anything going offensively, as both teams were perfect from the circle until Addie Rhea was plunked in the fourth frame. The Owls were unable to capitalize on their base runner, falling in order to close out the inning. The Vikings were able to collect their first runner the next inning when Caedence Risius rattled a ball back up the middle for the first base knock of the contest. Much to their dismay, GVU was unable to gather any momentum off this hit as they fell in order to finish their half of the fifth inning.
Grand View collected another hit in the bottom of the sixth frame, but Owls' arm Taylor Baumhoer was able to skate out of the inning without a scratch to set up a zero-run deadlock as they enter the final frame. Woods went three-up, three-down in their offensive half to set up a potential walk-off situation for the Vikings.
Baumhoer in circle, had already tallied three K's in the match while allowing only two hits. However, she started the bottom of the seventh, giving up a base knock through the left side of the infield. The next batter sacrificed her at-bat to move the runner into scoring position on a bunt to Emmy Blevins at third base who retired the hitter by a few steps. The Vikings proceeded to earn two free passes, in back-to-back style, on a base on balls and a hit by pitch to load the bases for GVU catcher Cierra Swanson. The backstop, at the plate with a good feel for the strike zone, watched a close ball one pass by before she elevated a 1-0 fastball to left field to bring in the walk-off run on a sacrifice fly.
William Woods continues play at 9:30 in the morning in the Heart of America Consolation Bracket as they look to work their way back into the hunt for a conference championship.
