Park University's softball program traveled to Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, March 26 to face (RV) Grand View University. The Pirates held their own, but the Vikings were able to slight Park in both games, 4-3 and 4-2.
Park moves to 4-2 in the early going of Heart of America Athletic Conference play and are 16-8 on the season.
L, 3-4 |
Box Score
Grand View was able to get to a lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to right field, but the Pirates would get it all back and then some by the senior, shortstop from Platte County HS,
Halle Magee. Magee entered the contest tied for the all-time career home run record with two Park greats, Jamie Tanno (2012-13) and Lexie Duncan (2018-22). Magee began her four-year career in 2022 with Duncan and now has surpassed her former teammate.
With one swing of the bat, Magee sent a shot over the leftfield wall for a go-ahead two-run home run and the record.
The Pirates benefited from a walk with the bases loaded in the fourth to give them a 3-1 lead.
Lauren Fiene was doing great work in the circle with four consecutive shutout innings after the first inning run. In her first five innings, she only allowed three hits and worked around four walks.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Fiene's fifth walk of the game cracked the door open for the Vikings, who then capitalized with a double and a three-run home run to take a 4-3 lead.
A diving play in centerfield took away a potential lead-off base-hit by Magee in the seventh, which could have changed the whole dynamic of the inning if that ball was down. Grand View did not allow a base-runner in the seventh and took the game 4-3.
L, 2-4 |
Box Score
A double in the second game by
Caroline Riffer to start the first inning was a good response by Park. Magee walked and Sanders singled to shallow leftfield to load the bases. With two-outs
Dani-Quinn Klein McAlister delivered an RBI single to put Park up 1-0.
A lead-off walk in the next half inning started things off for the home team. With one away, two doubles to both alleys then gave Grand View the 2-1 lead.
Hanna Vaught started the game in the circle, but then
Myel White took over and pitched three scoreless innings for the Pirates. The Park offense was held down by Grand View at the same time though, so this game remained 2-1.
Rylee Griffin relieved White in the fifth and kept the game 2-1 after facing four Vikings. More runs off extra base-hits came in the bottom of the sixth again for Grand View, as another two-RBI double got them to four runs.
An error in the top of the seventh gave Park some life and then with two-outs, the pinch hitting
Anna Shrum singled to right field to score Riffer. The Vikings held on to the lead again though for the sweep, 4-2.
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