Softball Falls Twice in Non-Conference Games Monday

Kansas City, Kan., (Feb. 19, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team played another pair of non-conference games in Kansas City, Kan., Monday afternoon.  The Vikings opened with a 6-1 loss to Midland (Neb.), then fell late to Evangel, 8-7.

The game against Midland opened with the Warriors producing in the top of the first inning, using three hits and one walk to produce one run and load the bases.  However, Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) ended the at-bat with a strikeout to keep the deficit at 1-0, and strand all three runners on-base.  Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) started the bottom of the first with a leadoff single, but was left stranded to end the threat.  After both teams were taken down in order in the second and third innings, which included two strikeouts for Horsten, Midland put together a rally in the fourth, using three hits and one MVC error to score three runs and increase the team's advantage to 4-0. 

Missouri Valley was taken down in order in the bottom of the fourth, then again in the fifth.  The Warriors created more opportunities from the plate in the top of the sixth, as the first two batters reached safely, then came home on a single to put the Vikings in a 6-0 deficit.  The bottom half of the inning featured Simons knocking out a solo homer to cut the gap to 6-1 going into the seventh inning.  Midland looked to increase their lead, but Simons threw out a runner from leftfield trying to advance home on a base-hit, and ended the at-bat for the Warriors.  The bottom of the seventh inning MVC taken down in order to end the game with a 6-1 defeat.

Simons led with two hits, one run, one RBI, and the solo home run.  Horsten picked up the loss, going 5.2 innings, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs with three strikeouts.  Junior Pitcher Abby Kinzler (Blue Springs, Mo.) pitched 1.1 innings in relief, giving up one hit and no runs.

The first inning of the Evangel game featured the two teams standing one base runner in their respective at-bats.  The top of the second inning included a run-scoring double from Junior Shortstop Alanna Neilsen (Salt Lake City, Utah), who came home later after a Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) grounder that led to an error allowing Missouri valley to go in front, 2-0.  Evangel came back with a lead-off homer in the bottom of the inning, but Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centruion, South Africa) took down the next three batters.  The third inning was scoreless for both teams, as Miles worked around a two-out single in the bottom half of the inning.  The Vikings tacked on another pair of runs in the fourth, when Freshman Catcher Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) brought Neilsen home on a single, and Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey (Pleasanton, Calif.) Simons drove home a runner with a sac-fly to make it a 4-1 advantage.  The Valor tried to rally in the bottom half, using a pair of singles to put the tying run on-base, but the two were left stranded.

Missouri Valley added to its lead in the fifth loading the bases with one out.  Neilsen brought home Sophomore Pinch Runner Jena Emerson (Live Oak, Calif.) on a single, and Vela worked a bases-loaded walk to push the team to a 6-1 lead.  Evangel worked down its deficit in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run, but left one runner stranded.  The Vikings started the sixth inning with a double from Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.), who came home later in the at-bat on a sac-fly from Sophomore Designated Player Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) to make it a 7-2 lead.  Evangel rallied in the bottom half of the inning, producing four runs on five hits and one MVC error to trail, 7-6.  Vela worked a two-out walk in the top of the seventh, and stole second base, but was left stranded.  The Valor came through with a lead-off single, then had the next batter reach safely after a dropped third strike.  With the winning run at second base, the following batter drove the base runners home on a single to cap the rally and give the Vikings an 8-7 defeat.

Neilsen led with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI's.  Junior First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) had two hits.  Sophomore Rightfielder Carlie Lamparter (Wright City, Mo.) added one hit and two runs scored. Gifford had one hit and one run scored, while Keller added one hit and one RBI.  Miles went 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts.  Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) picked up the loss with 1.2 innings and three earned runs with two strikeouts.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 0-4.

Up next, the Viking softball team plays a non-conference doubleheader in Leavenworth, Kan., against St. Mary (Kan.), Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m.

Midland Box Score-Click Here

Evangel 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.