Park University's softball program had an intense series with No. 16 Grand View University on Thursday. The Pirates prevailed, 2-0 in game one, while the Vikings came back in a 10-inning game two for the series split to begin Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

The Pirates have won six of their last seven games, including the game one against Grand View. The Pirates' record now stands at 11-7 and 1-1 in the Heart. The Vikings now are 17-4 and also 1-1 of the same. This is Park's second win this year against an NAIA Top 25 opponent.

This is the first win against Grand View since 2012 and snaps an eight-game losing streak against the Vikings.

GAME 1 | W, 2-0 | Box Score

The starting pitching and defense did an unbelievable job during the series for both teams. Lauren Fiene was in the circle for the Pirates and earned her fourth consecutive win and now has three complete games in her last four starts. This however was her first complete game, shutout of the season against a top ranked conference opponent.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Shelby Sanders had a great two-strike, triple through the alley in right centerfield to get in scoring position. Nia Muniz was up next and she delivered in the clutch with an RBI-single to left center for a 1-0 lead.

The score would stay where it was at, Fiene striking out five Vikings in the process, and the Pirates would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Sanders to score Ashton Arndt.

Fiene and company stranded eight Vikings left on base when the game was said and done, 2-0.

GAME 2 | L, 1-2 in 10 innings | Box Score

Another pitching duel ensued in game two, this time Dakota Rau carried the torch and shutout the Vikings through three innings.

The Pirates got on the board with following a Halle Magee triple in the bottom of the first inning. She would score off of a ground ball to the shortstop, resulting in Kal Day reaching first on a fielding error.

The Vikings broke through for their first run of the series in the top of the fourth inning, but Rau would only allow that run to end the inning.

In the end, this game would go to the 10^th inning to decide a winner. The international tie-breaker rule, put a runner on second base in the 10^th, which would come around to score after the Vikings rolled the dice on a ground ball to third. After getting the out at first-base, the throw home was close but the ball rolled away to give the Vikings the go-ahead score at the plate.

In the bottom of the 10^th, the Pirates were unable to move Muniz around from second and Grand View narrowly defeated Park, 2-1.

Both Rau and Fiene have three complete games in their last four starts. Fiene has struck out 38 and Rau 14 in that span. Also in these four games, Rau has a 2.05 ERA compared to the 0.84 ERA by Fiene. Impressively, Rau has zero walks in the last 27.1 innings pitched.

Park continues with Heart play on Friday with William Penn University at the Park Softball Complex at 1pm. WATCH