Softball Splits Pitchers' Duel Doubleheader at William Penn

Oskaloosa, Iowa, (April 6, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball finished a weekend road trip with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Oskaloosa, Iowa, against William Penn (Iowa).  The Vikings won game one in extra-innings, 3-2, but suffered a 1-0 loss in the second game to split the doubleheader.

Game one featured a pitchers' duel, as Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) worked through the first three innings by giving up just one hit and striking out two batters.  Missouri Valley produced one base-hit through the three innings of play, from Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) on a leadoff single in the third, but Gray was left stranded in scoring position.  William Penn put its leadoff batter on-base in the bottom of the fourth, with a single, but Shuff got out of the inning by stranding the runner.  Sophomore First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) followed with a single to open the top of the fifth, but MVC could not produce after a double-play ended the threat.  Shuff struck out another pair of batters in the bottom of the fifth, and the teams were still scoreless going into the sixth inning.  William Penn broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth, using a pair of hits to bring home one run.  The at-bat ended on a double-play started by Bettencourt at first base, as the Vikings trailed going into their final chance at the plate. 

Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) started the top of the seventh with a double, and moved to third on a groundout from Freshman Catcher Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.).  Bettencourt then drove home the tying run on a sac-fly and MVC extended the game with the score tied at 1-1.  William Penn threatened in the bottom half of the inning, putting its leadoff batter on-base with a single.  Shuff got out of the jam with two strikeouts to strand the runner, and send the game into an eighth inning.  Gray started the extra at-bat with a single, and advanced to second on a groundout, then to third on a single from Hailey Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.).  With two outs, the pair scored on a throwing error to give MVC a late lead.  William Penn tried to rally, and cut the gap down to 3-2.  The bases were loaded with two outs, but Shuff worked a lineout to Gifford at second base to end the threat, and secure the 3-2 victory.

Gray finished with two hits and one run, while both Gifford and Simons added one hit and one run.  Bettencourt chipped in with one hit and one RBI.  Shuff pitched the eight-inning complete-game, giving up 10 hits and two earned runs with seven strikeouts.

Game two was again dominated by the pitchers, which included Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) facing the minimum and striking out two WPU batters in the bottom of the first inning.  Missouri Valley worked the first hit of the game, in the top of the second inning, as Gray singled with two outs, but was left stranded.  Sophomore Rightfielder Sophie De Rouin (Vienna, Austria) added another two out single in the third inning, and again the runner was left on-base to end the at-bat.  Horsten took down William Penn in order in both the third and fourth innings, striking out the side in the bottom of the fourth.  The Vikings tried to produce a run in the top of the fifth, as Simons singled, and was moved to second base on a sac-bunt from Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.).  However, Simons was left stranded.  Horsten kept WPU from creating any offense in the fifth, then took the team down in order in the sixth, striking out the final batter.  Gray was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the seventh, and eventually reached third base, but the game went into the bottom of the seventh scoreless.  Horsten carried a no-hitter into the bottom half of the inning, and struck out the first batter.  The next batter drew a walk, then moved to second base on a wild pitch.  The first hit of the game for WPU brought home the base runner, and ended the game as a 1-0 defeat for Missouri Valley.

Horsten pitched 6.1 innings, giving up one hit, one earned run and striking out nine batters.  De Rouin, Bettencourt, Gray and Simons all had one hit.

The split moves Missouri Valley to 15-17 overall and 9-3 in the Heart.  William Penn sits at 14-20 on the season and 3-7 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team is scheduled to host Missouri Baptist in a non-conference doubleheader, Wednesday, beginning at 2 p.m., at Marshall (Mo.) High School.

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.