Gutierrez Leads Vikings to Split Over McLennan

Grayson softball earned a split on Wednesday afternoon against McLennan in its first home conference games.  The Highlanders of McLennan took over game one late with back to back four run innings to win 11-1.  The Vikings responded though behind the arm of Olivia Gutierrez with a 5-4 win in game two.

In the first inning of game one, McLennan got their offense started with a run off a Grayson error.  The Vikings evened things up at one in the bottom of the first inning though  when Lauren Degelia's sac fly scored one run for Grayson.

McLennan took the lead in the second with two runs to make the score 3-1.  That score would hold until the top of the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth the Highlanders broke the game open with four runs and followed up with four more runs in the sixth to complete an 11-1 McLennan victory.

Kylie Williams took the loss for Grayson. She went five innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits and striking out five.

Grayson came out strong in the bottom of the first inning of game two.  After Shelby Fleming reached base off an error, the Vikings got a big lift when catcher Danielle Humphrey delivered a two run home run to center field putting Grayson up 2-0.

McLennan wasted no time as they answered in the top of the second inning with a four spot of their own but that would be the end of the Higlanders' scoring as Grayson pitcher Olivia Gutierrez held the McLennan offense scoreless the remainder of the game.  The Vikings trimmed the deficit to one in the bottom of the inning when shortstop Morgan Lewis plated Baylee McBrannon with an rbi single.

Grayson evened things up at four in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Vikings cored one run on a Skylar Shedlock single.

After fighting back to tie the game, Grayson got what proved to be the go ahead score when sophomore Alexus White drove a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run.  

Gutierrez continued to hold McLennan in check the last two innings to seal a 5-4 win for the Vikings.

Olivia Gutierrez got the win for Grayson. She allowed five hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out one.

Grayson socked two home runs in the game. White put one out in the fifth inning while Danielle Humphrey had a four bagger in the first inning.  Morgan Lewis went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Grayson in hits.