Softball Sweeps Culver-Stockton at Home

Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) kept Culver-Stockton scoreless in the first inning, stranding one base runner, then struck out three batters in the second inning.  Missouri Valley used two walks and an error to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but all three runners were left stranded.  The Wildcats found some offense in the third, bringing home a pair of runs on a double to move on top, 2-0.  Horsten got out of the inning with a strikeout to leave two runners still on-base.  Missouri Valley responded with production from the plate in the bottom half, which started on a single from Sophomore Third Baseman Sydnee Weber (Visalia, Calif.).  Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.) brought the runner home on triple, then Senior Designated Player Laura Caswell (Santa Claus, Ind.) scored Mendoza on a single to tie the contest at 2-2.  Horsten recorded another three strikeouts in the fourth inning, stranding a pair of runners.  The game stayed tied going into the sixth inning.  Horsten took down CSC in order in the top half, and Sophomore Leftfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) broke the deadlock to start the bottom half of the sixth with a solo homer to put Missouri Valley in front, 3-2.  The Wildcats put the tying run on-base in the seventh inning, but a liner was caught at shortstop by Mendoza, who got the runner out at first base on a double play to end the game, and secure a 3-2 victory.

Mendoza led with two hits, one run and one RBI.  Vela added one hit, one run and one RBI on her solo homer, while Weber had one hit and one run scored.  Caswell finished with one hit and one RBI.  Horsten picked up the complete-game win, giving up five hits, and one earned run with seven strikeouts.

Game two started by Culver-Stockton going in front early, loading the bases and bringing home one run on a hit batter.  Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) got out of the jam with an inning-ending strikeout, as the Wildcats led, 1-0.  Missouri Valley rallied in the bottom half.  Vela reached on a fielder's choice, followed by a single from Mendoza.  Caswell brought home both runners with a single, while JuniorCatcher Baylee Smuin (Vernal, Utah) scored Caswell on a single later in the inning.  Sophomore Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) ended the rally with an RBI single to score Senior Second Baseman Ashley Cox (Yreka, Calif.) and set the MVC advantage at 4-1.  Rademann struck out one in both the second and third innings to maintain the lead.  In the fourth, a liner went off Rademann, and down for a single, but the next batter hit a liner back to Rademann once again, who made the catch and doubled up the runner at first to end the threat and keep it a 4-1 score.  The Vikings added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, on four hits.  Three-straight singles produced one run each, coming from Caswell, Sophomore First Baseman Megan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) and Cox to make it a 7-1 lead.  The Wildcats got one of those runs back in the fifth, cutting the deficit down to 7-2.  Missouri Valley looked to put the game away in the sixth, as a rally was started by singles from Mendoza and Caswell.  Newmyer brought home the first run with a single, followed by a run-scoring single from Cox.  Smuin was walked to load the bases, and Brianna Vela put down a single into leftfield that allowed Newmyer to score and cap a 10-2 victory in six innings.

Cox hit safely in all four at-bats, adding one run and two RBI's.  Caswell had three hits, three runs scored and three RBI's, while Mendoza added two hits and two runs scored.  Brianna Vela totaled two hits and two RBI's, Smuin had two hits and one RBI, and Senior Centerfielder Viviana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) added two hits and one run scored.  Newmyer had two hits, one run and two RBI's.  Rademann picked up the win, giving up four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts in five innings.

The sweep moves Missouri Valley to 16-12 on the season and 5-3 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton drops to 11-23 overall and 4-8 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team goes to Peru, Neb., for a Heart doubleheader with Peru State (Neb.), Saturday 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.