The Missouri Valley College softball team enjoyed its first home game of the season Wednesday, winning its Heart of America Conference opener over Graceland, 8-7, before rain washed out the second game of the scheduled twinbill.

The Lady Vikings gradually built a substantial lead, but had to cling to it at the end while yielding six runs in the top of the seventh inning.

None of the runs came in before the second out was recorded, but got a lift when freshman Kelsey Johansen knocked in two runs with a single after one had already been forced in on a bases-loaded walk.

Two more runs came in on a botched fielder's choice and a single by junior Chantelle Daigle brought the Lady Yellowjackets (4-7, 1-4 HAAC) -- who have lost five of their last six games, including three straight league contests -- to within a run before sophomore Tatum Hathcock got out of the jam by inducing a roller to second base.

Back-to-back doubles by sophomore Sydney Kaneshiro and junior Suzanne Horine gave Valley a run in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Heather Sliger singled in two of the Lady Vikings' three runs in the third to make it 4-1.

Horine plated Kaneshiro with a single in the fifth after another runner had crossed on an error. Junior Lindsey Stapp's double and a Sliger single brought in Valley's final two runs in the sixth.

Four players had two hits each for the Lady Vikings (8-10, 1-0), who play Saturday at Central Methodist.