Softball Splits Road Doubleheader at St. Mary

Leavenworth, Kan., (Feb. 21, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Leavenworth, Kan., Wednesday afternoon, for a non-conference doubleheader against St. Mary (Kan.).  The Vikings got out early in the first game, and earned a 6-2 win, but fell in the second game, 9-1.

The first inning started with production from the plate by the Vikings as Junior First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa), Sophomore Designated Player Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) and Sophomore Shortstop Aniah Castruita (Sout El Monte, Calif.) each singled with one out.  Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) drove all three runners home with a single to put the team in front, 3-0.  Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centruion, South Africa) followed by striking out two batters and facing the minimum in the bottom half of the inning.  After a scoreless second inning, MVC added to the advantage in the third.  Newmyer doubled and came home on a Bettencourt double.  Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) came through later in the inning with a two-out, two-run home run to make it a 6-0 score.  Miles got out of the bottom half of the inning after a two-out single as Sophomore Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) threw out the runner trying to steal second base. 

Missouri Valley threatened in the fifth, as Bettencourt opened the at-bat with a single, but the Vikings were unable to increase their lead.  Miles added another strikeout in the bottom of the fifth and took down the Spires in order for the fourth time.  The bottom of the sixth featured production from the plate by St. Mary, as a triple and a wild pitch allowed one runner to score, and cut the USM deficit to 6-1.  The Spires tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, creating most of their offense with two outs.  Three-straight singles allowed one runner to come home, and bring the tying run to the plate.  However, Miles ended the game with a fly-out to Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.), which secured the 6-2 victory.

Bettencourt led with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI.  Simons totaled three hits, while Newmyer added two hits and two runs scored.  Vela had one hit and two RBI's, and Gray finished with one hit, one run and two RBI's on her two-run homer.  Miles pitched the complete game, giving up five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.

Game two started with Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) working around a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning to eventually leave the runner stranded at third base to keep the contest scoreless.  Horsten took down St. Mary in order in the second inning, striking out one batter.  The top of the third started with a single from Junior Shortstop Alanna Neilsen (Salt Lake City, Utah) and a double by Casjens, but Neilsen was thrown out at home on the play.  Vela then drove home Casjens from third base with a grounder to put Missouri Valley in front, 1-0.  The Spires put together a rally in the bottom half or the inning, using three hits and two walks to produce four runs and move in front, 4-1.  Missouri Valley threatened in the top of the fourth, which started on a one-out single from Bettencourt.  Freshman Designated Player Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) singled and Gray loaded the bases with a single, but the three runners were left stranded to end the at-bat.

St. Mary added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth, bringing home three runs on two hits and a walk to make it a 7-1 score.  Junior Pitcher Abby Kinzler (Blue Springs, Mo.) worked around a jam with two runners on-base with one out by getting the next two batters to fly out to end the threat.  After a scoreless top of the sixth, USM ended the game in the bottom of the inning, producing two hits and one walk to score two more runs, as Missouri Valley fell, 9-1.

Gray had two hits, while Casjens had one hit and one run.  Simons, Bettencourt, Keller and Neilsen each added one hit.  The loss went to Horsten who went 3.1 innings with five hits and six earned runs.

Missouri Valley moves to 1-5 on the season while St. Mary sits at 2-6.

Up next, the team will travel to Ottawa, Kan., for a non-conference doubleheader with Ottawa (Kan.), Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score-Click Here

Game 2 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.