June 1, 2018 By Chris Varney
June has finally arrived and the Tiger softball team exploded last night for 2 wins, 7-1 and 9-6.
In Game One, Grinnell started 8th grader Meredith McKnight as pitcher for the first time and she responded with a complete game, allowing just 1 ER on 5 hits. She would walk 4 and struck out 3 but got out of some key jams and got some great defense. In the 2nd inning, the Vikettes loaded the bases on an error, infield single and walk but McKnight got a pop out and ground out to end the threat. In the 3rd inning, V-S scored on a RBI single from Olivia Erhardt to tie the game at 1-1. Becca Steffen would reach base on a fielders choice, stole 2nd and after a walk would try to steal third. Kate Kriegel would throw her out at third and the Vikettes got nothing more. Grinnell would then break it open with 4 runs in the bottom of the third and cruised from there. Had Vinton been able to do something in those innings, the outcome might have been different.
In Game Two, Grinnell built a 4-0 lead but V-S scored 5 runs off of Hannah Behrens to take a 5-4 lead in the third inning. Behrens, however, would help out in other ways. In the bottom of the third, Behrens singled to lead off the inning and later scored on Emma Ware’s 2 out RBI hit to tie it up at 5-5. In the 4th, Lydia Roudabush replaced Behrens at pitcher but the freshman stayed in the game at first base. After the Vikettes took a 6-5 lead, Kiana Kies delivered a go ahead 2 run double and then scored on a RBI single from Behrens to make it 8-6. In the 5th inning, Behrens played a bad hop, gloved it and tagged out Katilyn Meyer. She also had some great stretches at first base to help Megan Doty on some throws from shortstop. While Behrens did not have her best stuff pitching, she became a hero of the game anyway while Roudbush allowed only one baserunner in the final 3 innings.
Sure, Kiana Kies, Megan Doty and Kate Kriegel had big nights last night at the plate but if Grinnell continues to get big nights from young players like McKnight and Behrens, they will do just fine.