Softball Splits Road Doubleheader at William Woods

Fulton, Mo., (March 17, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Fulton, Mo., for a Sunday afternoon, non-conference doubleheader with William Woods (Mo.).  The Vikings won the opener, 9-8, then fell in the second game, 5-4.

Missouri Valley opened the day with a productive top of the first inning as Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) led off with a single, and came home on a double from Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.).  Late rin the inning, Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) doubled to score both Senior Designated Player Cris Aguilar (Livingston, Calif.) and Gifford to put the team ahead, 3-0.  Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centurion, South Africa) worked around a two-out single in the bottom half of the inning, striking out a pair of batters and stranding the runner.  William Woods cut into its deficit in the bottom of the second, creating one run on two hits and one error.  Miles followed by taking down WWU in order in the third, but the Owls added another run in the bottom of the fourth.  William Woods looked to add more in the at-bat, but Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) caught a foul pop-out, then threw a runner out trying to tag-up on the play to end the threat.  The score stayed at 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning.

The Vikings put together a long at-bat which featured a three-run homer from Freshman Pinch Hitter Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) to extend the lead.  Later in the inning, Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) reached on an error, and two runners scored on the WWU mistake.  Gifford then brought home Gifford on a single to cap a six-run rally to give the team a 9-2 advantage.  The Owls responded with their own rally, using six hits and one error to trail, 9-8, going into the seventh inning.  Missouri Valley was unable to increase the advantage in its final at-bat, and Pitcher McKenna Christian took down WWU in order in the bottom half to secure the 9-8 victory.

Gifford led with two hits, one run and two RBI's, while both Brianna Vela and Caitlyn Vela had two hits and one run scored apiece.  Keller added one hit, one run and three RBI's, while Gray had one hit and two RBI's.  Miles earned the win, going four innings with six hits and two earned runs while recording two strikeouts.

Game two began with more early offense from Missouri Valley, as Gifford doubled with one out, and came home later in the at-bat on a double from Keller.  William Woods created some two-out production in the bottom half, as a double brought home two runners and put the Owls in front, 2-1.  The Vikings rallied in the second inning, all coming with two outs.  Simons walked and Caitlyn Vela singled.  Gifford brought the two runners home on a single, and then came home on a single from Brianna Vela to move MVC back on top, 4-2.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) took down WWU in order in the bottom half of the inning, striking out one batter.  The Owls cut into their deficit in the third inning, using a bases-loaded walk to score one run.  However, Horsten got out of the jam without surrendering another run, and keeping it a 4-3 score.

After a scoreless fourth and top of the fifth, William Woods came back with two hits and the tying run in the bottom of the fifth.  Missouri Valley threatened in the top of the sixth, as Caitlyn Vela reached on a fielder's choice and Gifford singled.  Both were in scoring position, but left stranded to end the at-bat.  The Owls followed with the tying run, scoring on a passed ball to make it 4-4.  The Vikings loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, on fielder's choice grounders, an error and a walk.  However, the runners were all left on-base to keep the teams tied.  Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) faced the minimum in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the last batter faced in the inning to send the game into the eighth.  Playing with the international tiebreaker rule, MVC could not advance the runner at second base home in its time at the plate.  William Woods followed with a leadoff double to score the runner and earn a 5-4 win to split the doubleheader.

Gifford led with three hits, two runs and two RBI's.  Keller had two hits and one RBI, while Simons totaled two hits and one run.  Horsten pitched four innings with six hits, three earned runs and four strikeouts.

The split moves Missouri Valley to 6-14 on the season, while William Woods moves to 8-14.

Up next, the Vikings got to St. Louis, Mo., for a non-conference doubleheader with Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.), Wednesday 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.