Softball Drops Pair of Close Games at Benedictine

Atchison, Kan., (Apr. 23, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College softball team went to Atchison, Kan., for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon against Benedictine (Kan.). The Vikings dropped a close first game, 3-2, followed by 7-6 defeat in the second game.

The first game of the day started with both teams going through the first inning scoreless. Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) struck out three batters in the bottom half of the inning, leaving one runner on-base. Benedictine broke through in the bottom of the second inning, as a two-out single led to one runner crossing home and putting the team ahead, 1-0. The top of the third featured two-out singles from both Senior Centerfielder Viviana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) and Sophomore Leftfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.), but the pair were left on-base. Horsten struck out another pair of batters in the bottom of the third to keep the deficit at one run. Missouri Valley rallied in the fourth as Freshman Designated Player Olivia Bettencourt (Murietta, Calif.) knocked out a solo homer to tie the game, followed by a single from Junior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) who scored on a Sophomore Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) double to put the team in front, 2-1. The Ravens were kept from producing anything at the plate in the fourth and fifth innings, but came through with a rally in the sixth. Benedictine produced two runs on two hits and one error to move in front, 3-2. Missouri Valley loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, on singles from both Brianna Vela and Senior Catcher Carly Powley (Keenesburg, Colo.), along with an intentional walk to Gamez. However, the three were left on-base to end the game, as the Vikings fell, 3-2.

Brianna Vela had two hits and one RBI, Bettencourt added one hit, one run and one RBI. Gray finished with one hit and one run. Horsten picked up the loss, going six innings with six hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts.

Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) kept Benedictine scoreless in the opening two innings of game two, and Missouri Valley went in front with production from the plate in the third inning. Junior Catcher Cris Aguiar (Livingston, Calif.) reached with a walk to start the at-bat, and eventually moved to third on a Gamez single and a sac-bunt from Caitlyn Vela. Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.) brought home Aguiar with a sac-fly, and made it a 1-0 score. Benedictine responded in the bottom half of the inning, and used two hits and one MVC error to go on top, 3-1. Sophomore First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) got one of those runs back with a solo homer, cutting the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning. The Vikings threatened in the fifth as singles from both Aguiar and Mendoza, along with a walk from Bettencourt loaded the bases, but all three runners were left stranded to end the threat. The Ravens added to their lead in the bottom half of the fifth, knocking out a two-run homer to make it a 5-2 score.

Missouri Valley put together a long at-bat in the sixth, and a double from Caitlyn Vela brought home Aguilar and Sophomore Makenzie Graham (Everett, Wash.) to work back to a 5-4 deficit. The Vikings continued their comeback in the top of the seventh, with all production coming after two outs. Senior Second Baseman Ashley Cox (Yreka, Calif.) doubled and Gray walked. The two scored on a double from Brianna Vela that put the team on top, 6-5. Benedictine came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, and put the first two batters on-base after a hit-by-pitch and a walk. With one out, a double brought both runners home, and finished a 7-6 defeat for Missouri Valley.

Aguilar finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Caitlyn Vela and Brianna Vela each had one hit and two RBI's. Newmeyer finished with one hit, one run and one RBI.

Missouri Valley falls to 20-20 overall and 9-11 in the Heart. Benedictine improves to 24-21 on the season and 14-8 in the conference.

Next up, the team will play a rescheduled doubleheader against Clarke (Iowa), Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m., the games will be played at Grand View (Iowa) in Des Moines, Iowa.

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.