Softball Sweeps Clarke on the Road

Des Moines, Iowa, (April 25, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, for a Tuesday afternoon Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Clarke University (Iowa).  In games that were rescheduled from last month, the Vikings opened with a 10-1 win in the first game, and followed by a 4-3 win to finish off the sweep.

Missouri Valley went in front early in the first game as Senior Centerfielder Viviana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) reached on an error to leadoff, and eventually came home on a single from Senior Designated Player Lauren Caswell (Santa Clause, Ind.) to put the team on top, 1-0.  Clarke answered back in the bottom of the inning as the team earned three walks and produced one single to eventually tie the contest at 1-1.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout to end the CU at-bat.  The Vikings rallied in the second inning, which started on a walk from Senior Second Baseman Ashley Cox (Yreka, Calif.), followed by a single from Junior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) and a walk earned by Senior Catcher Carly Powley (Keenesburg, Calif.) to load the bases.  Gamez came up to the plate next, and knocked out a grand slam homer to put MVC back in front. Sophomore Leftfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) followed with a solo home run, to make it a 6-1 score.  Horsten worked around a single in the bottom of the second inning, then struck out one batter in the third, and two more in the fourth inning.  The Pride threatened in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with one out.  However, Horsten ended the rally attempt with back-to-back strikeouts to strand all three on-base. The Vikings tacked on another run in the sixth as Caswell singled to score Gamez, and the team finished off the game with more offense in the seventh. One run scored on an error from a Gamez grounder, and Vela scored another pair of runners with a double to cap a 10-1 victory.

Vela finished with two hits, one run and three RBI's, while Caswell had two hits and two RBI's.  Gamez totaled one hit, four runs and five RBI's in the game. Cox, Gray, Freshman Sarah De Leon (Pico Rivera, Calif.) and Powley each had one hit and one run.  Horsten pitched a complete-game, giving up four hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts.

Game two started with a double from Gamez, who eventually scored on a single by Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.). Clarke followed with a one run to tie the teams at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, the game stayed tied going into the third. MVC took the lead in the third inning with help from a double by Gamez, and Vela reached first on an error. The pair came home on a double from Sophomore First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) to make it a 3-1 advantage. CU scored on a single to cut into their deficit at the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fourth inning Gray reached first on an error, and advanced to second as Gamez walked, but the Vikings were unable to produce any runs. Missouri Valley started the fifth with two runners on-base after Mendoza doubled, and Newmeyer had singled. Cox brought home Mendoza with a single to extend the Vikings lead 4-2. Clarke got one of those runs back, and Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) got out the fifth inning with help from a double play by Mendoza to keep the score 4-3. Both teams were unable to produce runs in the last two innings of the game, and a grounder by Mendoza ended the game, 4-3, in favor of the Vikings.

Newmyer led with two hits, and two RBI's, while Mendoza had two hits, one run and one RBI. Cox added one hit and one RBI, while Gamez totaled two hits, and two runs. Rademann pitched seven innings, giving up eight hits with three earned runs and one strikeout.

The pair of wins move Missouri Valley to 22-20 overall, and 11-11 in the Heart. Clarke drops to 11-28 on the season and 4-18 in the conference.

Up next, the team travels to Lamoni, Iowa, for a Heart doubleheader against Graceland (Iowa), Friday at 4 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.