Softball Splits Friday Non-Conference Doubleheader

Columbia, Mo., (March 15, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team played a pair of games at the Columbia (Mo.) Invitational at the Mizzou Softball Complex in Columbia, Mo., Friday afternoon. The Vikings led early, and pulled away late for a 10-3 win over Morningside (Iowa), then dropped in a low-scoring second game, 3-0, against Briar Cliff (Iowa).

Missouri Valley went in front early in the game against Morningside, as Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) faced the minimum in the top of the first, helped by a strikeout and Sophomore Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) throwing a runner out trying to steal second base.  The Vikings followed by working three walks during the at-bat, and scoring three runs without producing any hits.  Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) scored first, on a throwing error following Junior Second Baseman Ashley Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) stealing second base.  Later in the inning, both Gifford and Sophomore First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) scored after Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) reached safely on an error to put the team in front, 3-0.  Horsten struck out two more batters in the second inning, then another pair in the third.  Morningside rallied with two outs in the at-bat, cutting the deficit down to 3-2.  Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) worked in relief, and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth to strand three runners on-base.

The Viking rallied in the bottom half of the inning, as Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) walked, and scored on a double from Sophomore Shortstop Sophie De Rouin (Vienna, Austria).  Later in the inning, Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) brought home Rouin on a single to push the advantage out to 5-2.  Shuff took down Morningside in order in the fifth inning, ending the at-bat with a strikeout.  Missouri Valley added to its lead in the bottom half as Gray singled to score Gifford, Rouin brought home Sophomore Pinch Runner Stella Cashin (Alameda, Claif.) on a sac-fly and Casjens doubled to score Brianna Vela and Gray to make it a 9-2 advantage.  The top of the sixth featured Morningside producing one run, but MVC got that run back in the bottom half, with a double from Senior Pinch Hitter Cris Aguilar (Livingston, Calif.) to score Bettencourt.  Shuff finished out the game by inducing three-straight ground outs and securing the 10-3 win.

Both Brianna Vela and Rouin finished with one hit, one run scored and two RBI's.  Bettencourt had one hit and two runs scored, while Cajens added one hit and two runs.  Shuff pitched 4.1 innings, giving up one hit and no earned runs with two strikeouts.

The game against Briar Cliff started with both teams going through the first inning scoreless. The Chargers went in front in the bottom of the second using two hits to produce one run. The third inning started with a single by C. Vela, but was left stranded. Briar Cliff followed with more offense in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on three hits to extend their lead to 3-0. Junior Pitcher Abby Kinzler (Blue Springs, Mo.) struck out one batter in both the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Chargers scoreless. Gifford started the sixth with a double, but was left stranded as the Vikings were not able to produce any runs. Missouri Valley were unable to climb back late, and fell by a final score of 3-0.

Missouri Valley is 4-12 on the season.

Up next, the Vikings play two more games from the Columbia Invitational, Saturday in Columbia, Mo.  First game is a rematch with Morningside at 1 p.m., followed by a game with Columbia (Mo.) at 5 p.m.

Morningside Box Score-Click Here

Briar Cliff 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.