Softball Splits Extra-Innings Doubleheader at No. 17 Ottawa

Ottawa, Kan., (Feb. 27, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Ottawa, Kan., for a non-conference doubleheader with Ottawa (Kan.), Tuesday afternoon.  The Vikings overcame a deficit to win game one in extra-innings, 3-2.  The second game also went into an eighth inning, but Missouri Valley fell, 12-11.

The first game began with a leadoff single in the top of the first inning from Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simmons (Pleasanton, Calif.).  Later in the at-bat, Sophomore Designated Player Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) drove the runner home with a two-out double to put MVC in front, 1-0.  Ottawa threatened in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases on three walks, but Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) struck out two and left all three runners on-base.  After a scoreless top of the second inning, the Braves rallied in the bottom half.  Three hits produced two runs and put MVC in a 2-1 deficit.  That gap was erased in the top of the third, as Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) tripled to open the inning, and came home on a grounder from Simons.  Horsten followed by taking down OU in order for the first time in the game, striking out the final batter.  The Vikings threatened in the fourth, as Senior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.) singled and Sophomore Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) reached on an error, but the team could not break the tie.  Horsten again faced the minimum in the bottom of the fourth, striking out one batter.

Two-straight singles, from Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) and Junior Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) put Missouri Valley in position to take the lead in the fifth inning, but the at-bat ended with two runners left on-base.  Ottawa next threatened in the bottom of the sixth, as two batters were hit by pitches in the inning.  However, Horsten ended the inning with another strikeout to leave the runners stranded.  The Vikings were taken down in order in the seventh, while Horsten struck out a pair of batters in the bottom half to keep the teams tied, and send the game into an eighth inning.  Using the international tiebreaker, Junior Alanna Neilsen (Salt Lake City, Utah) pinch ran, and started the at-bat at second base.  A grounder from Bettencourt allowed Neilsen to reach third, and with two outs a wild pitch brought Neilsen home to break the deadlock.  Ottawa loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, on a single and a hit-by-pitch.  Horsten followed with back-to-back strikeouts to end the OU threat and preserve the 3-2 victory for Missouri Valley.

Gray finished with two hits, while Simons had one hit, one run and one RBI.  Bettencourt added one hit and one RBI, while Vela totaled one hit and one run.  Horsten pitched a complete-game, throwing 151 pitches, giving up four hits and two earned runs with 10 strikeouts.

Missouri Valley opened the second game with a long rally in the top of the first inning.  Simons started it off with a single, followed by singles from both Gifford and Freshman Designated Player Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) to load the bases with one out.  Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) brought two runners home with a double, and Gray drove home Keller with a single.  An error from the OU catcher on a steal attempt from Gray allowed Vela to score and increase the lead.  With two outs, Caitlyn Vela doubled to bring home Gray, and MVC held a 5-0 advantage.  The Braves threatened in the bottom half, as the first four batters reached safely on two hits and two walks to produce two runs.  However, Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centurion, South Africa) got out of the jam with a double-play and strikeout to keep the score at 5-1.  The top of the second inning featured a walk from Gifford and a double by Bettencourt.  Later in the inning, Brianna Vela brought home Gifford on a sac-fly to make it a 6-1 score.  Ottawa responded with a long rally in the bottom half of the inning, scoring six runs on six hits and one error to move in front, 7-6.  After the Vikings were taken down in order in the top of the third, OU added another three runs in the bottom half, and sat with a 10-6 advantage.

Missouri Valley followed with a two-out rally in the fourth, which started on a Bettencourt double.  Keller and Brianna Vela each singled to load the bases, and Gray tied the score at 10-10 with a grand slam.  Missouri Valley threatened again in the fifth, as Sophomore Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) and Simons both singled, but the pair were left stranded.  The score stayed tied going into the seventh inning.  With two outs, Simons doubled, then came home on a single from Gifford to give MVC a one-run lead.  Ottawa responded with production from the plate in the bottom of the inning, and produced one run on two hits to send the game into the eighth inning.  The Vikings had runners at second and third with no outs, but a line drive turned into a double-play, and the team was kept scoreless in the at-bat.  The Braves followed with a sac-bunt and a single to produce the winning run, and take the game, 12-11, to split the doubleheader.

Bettencourt finished with four hits and two runs, while Brianna Vela totaled three hits, two runs and three RBI's.  Simons had three hits and two runs scored, while Gray tallied two hits, two runs, five RBI's and the grand slam homer.  Keller added two hits and two runs scored.  Missouri Valley ended the game with 17 hits, including five doubles.  The loss went to Abby Kinzler, who pitched the final six innings in relief, giving up nine hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts.

Missouri Valley moves to 2-6 on the season while Ottawa sits at 13-5.

Up next, the Vikings will play a series of non-conference games, Friday and Saturday, in Wichita, Kan., at the Friends (Kan.) Invitational.  Friday begins with an 11 a.m., game against Bethany (Kan.), followed by a 1:20 p.m., game against Concordia (Neb.).

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.