Softball Opens Season With Pair of Defeats

Kansas City, Kan., (Feb. 18, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team opened its season with a pair of non-conference games in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday afternoon.  The Vikings had a late rally fall short in a 4-3 loss to Bellevue (Neb.), followed by a 9-2 defeat to Avila (Mo.).

The first game of the day against Bellevue opened with Missouri Valley falling into an early 1-0 deficit in the first inning.  The gap grew in the second inning, as the Bruins tacked on another three runs to hold a 4-0 lead.  Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) doubled in the top of the third inning, but was stranded to end the at-bat.  Bellevue threatened in the bottom half of the inning, putting two batters on-base, but Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) worked a strikeout and a groundout to strand the pair.  The Vikings produced from the plate in the fourth, as Junior First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) walked and Sophomore Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) singled.  Freshman Catcher Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) drove home both runners with a two-out single, and MVC trailed, 4-2.

The bottom of the fourth featured two more strikeouts for Shuff, which helped strand two runners on-base.  Missouri Valley cut into their deficit again in the top of the fifth, as Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) belted a solo homer to make it a 4-3 score.  After a scoreless sixth inning, the VIkings went into their final at-bat trailing by one run.  However, Missouri Valley was unable to produce a base runner, and fell by a final score of 4-3.

Keller had one hit and two RBI's, while Caitlyn Vela totaled one hit, one run, and one RBI with the solo homer.  Castruita added one hit and one run scored.  Shuff pitched 4.2 innings in relief, giving up two hits and no earned runs with five strikeouts.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten picked up the loss.

In the second game of the day, Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centruion, South Africa) struck out a pair in the top of the first inning, then another batter in the second inning to face the minimum through that point in the game.  Missouri Valley went in front in the bottom of the second inning, producing with two outs.  Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) walked and was driven home by a Sophomore Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) double to make it a 1-0 score. After another scoreless inning with one strikeout from Miles, the advantage grew again in the bottom of the third on a solo homer from Newmyer.  Avila responded in the top of the fourth, and tied the game at 2-2 on a two-run home run.

The Eagles continued to rally in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on three hits to make it a 4-2 deficit for Missouri Valley.  The deficit grew again in the sixth as Avila created five more runs to hold a 9-2 lead.  The bottom half of the inning featured a single from Castruita and Sophomore Pinch Hitter Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) reaching safely on an error, but the two were left stranded.  The Vikings were unable to rally in the seventh, as Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) walked and Sophomore Leftiflelder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) singled before falling by a 9-2 score.

Newmyer led with one hit, one run and one RBI on the solo homer.  Casjens added one hit and one RBI, while Simons, Caitlyn Vela, and Gifford all had one hit.  The loss went to Miles who pitched five innings with nine hits, seven earned runs and four strikeouts.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 0-2 on the season.

Up next, the Vikings play two more non-conference games in Kansas City, Kan., Monday afternoon.  First game against Midland (Neb.) starts at 12 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m., game against Evangel (Mo.).

Bellevue Box Score-Click Here

Avila Box Score-Click Here

ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.