Softball Suffers Losses to MidAmerica Nazarene

Marshall, Mo., (April 15, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College softball team hosted MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Lyon Bowl.  The Vikings fell in both games, by scores of 13-1 and 12-7.

The first game featured MidAmerica Nazarene scoring three runs in the first inning, then using six errors and seven hits in the second inning to add another 10 runs to the team's total.  The only run for Missouri Valley came in the bottom half of the second, as Sophomore Third Baseman Sydnee Weber (Visalia, Calif.) singled to bring home Senior Second Baseman Ashley Cox (Yreka, Calif.).  The Vikings eventually fell by a final score of 13-1.

Weber had three hits and one RBI, while Senior Catcher Carly Powley (Keenesburg, Colo.) added one hit.  Sophomore Pitcher Abby Kinzler (Grain Valley, Mo.) pitched 3.2 innings in relief, giving up five hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts.

Game two started with the Pioneers going in front early once again, this time using two hits to produce one run in the first inning.  Missouri Valley opened its first at-bat of the contest with a single from Senior Centerfielder Viviana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) followed by a two-run homer from Weber to put the team ahead, 2-1.  Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) took down MNU in order in the top of the second inning, and the Vikings followed with a rally.  Junior Catcher Bailee Smuin (Vernal, Utah) opened the rally with a triple, followed by a walk from Sophomore Leftfielder Mackenzie Graham (Everett, Wash.).  Senior Rightfielder Madison Alexander (Louisville, Ky.) brought home Smuin with a single, and later in the inning, a single from Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.) allowed by Gamez and Alexander to score to put the advantage at 5-1.  The game was halted for more than an hour due to a weather delay, and MidAmerica Nazarene came back in the top of the third with a long at-bat.  Three runs were scored on four hits and one error to cut the deficit to 5-4.  Rademann worked back to face the minimum in the fourth, but MNU rallied in the fifth for six runs on seven hits to claim a 10-5 lead.  Two more MNU runs were tacked on in the sixth.  Missouri Valley responded with offense in the bottom half of the sixth, as Graham drew another walk and Junior Pinch Hitter Cris Aguilar (Livingston, Calif.).  Graham came home on a wild pitch, and Aguilar scored on a Gamez grounder to make it a 12-7 contest.  Missouri Valley was unable to put together a rally in the seventh inning, and fell by a final score of 12-7.

Weber had two hits, one run scored and two RBI's.  Sophomore First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) had two hits, and Mendoza added one hit and two RBI's.  Gamez finished with one hit, two runs and one RBI.  Rademann picked up the loss, going five innings with 14 hits and nine earned runs.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 20-16 overall and 9-7 in the Heart.  MidAmerica Nazarene improves to 20-14 on the season and 10-8 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., for a Heart doubleheader at No. 4 Baker (Kan.)

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.