Softball Sweeps Peru State at Home

Marshall, Mo., (March 30, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team hosted Peru State (Neb.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon. The Vikings won the opener, 9-7, then earned a 6-3 win in game two for the sweep.

The first game started with Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) keeping the Bobcats scoreless in the first and second inning, striking out two batters. The Vikings went in front in the bottom of the second inning, as Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) walked, Senior Rightfielder Christa Gray (Modesto, Calif.) singled to left field, and Sophomore Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) singled bringing B. Vela home. Sophomore Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) followed with another single to load the bases, and Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) brought home two runners with a double to make it a 3-0 score. Peru State got back two runs, using two hits and three MVC errors to score two runs in the third inning. The Vikings responded with a long rally in the bottom half, which started with a walk from both Freshman Designated Player Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) and B. Vela, followed with a single from Casjens to load the bases, and a sac-fly by Castruita allowing Keller to score. Simons singled to center field to produce two runs, and C. Vela came up next and hit a double that allowed Simons to score. Later in the inning, MVC scored another run, as Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) singled to bring home C. Vela and extend their lead to 8-2. 

The Bobcats worked down their deficit in the fourth, using two hits and one error to score two runs, making it an 8-4 score. The Vikings threatened to extend their lead, as Keller singled and B. Vela walked, but both were left stranded. Peru State tried to climb back in the top of the fifth, using two hits to score three runs to make it a 9-7 score. After a scoreless sixth for the Bobcats, Missouri Valley produced one more run. Both B. Vela and Junior Catcher Cris Aguiar (Livingston, Calif.) singled, and Sophomore Shortstop Sophie De Rouin (Vienna, Austria) came in to pitch run for B. Vela. Rouin and Aguilar both advanced on a wild pitch, and Castruita singled to the pitcher allowing one runner to score. Chloe Stuff struck out one batter in the seventh to finish out the game with a 9-7 victory.

Simons led with two hits, one run and four RBI's. Casjens had three hits, two runs scored and one RBI, while Castruita added two hits and two RBI's. C. Vela finished with two hits and one run, and B. Vela had one hit and two scored runs. Both Keller and Gray added one hit and one run. Horsten picked up the win, going 3.1 innings and giving up five hits, three earned runs and three strikeouts.

Game two started with Missouri Valley producing from the plate in the first inning, using singles from both C. Vela and Gifford, who then both advanced on a wild pitch. Sophomore First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) brought home C. Vela with a sac-fly to center field to put the Vikings in front, 1-0. After both teams were held scoreless in the second inning, the Bobcats used three hits and one MVC error to score one run. Missouri Valley answered back in the bottom of the third inning, as Simons walked, C. Vela singled and Bettencourt doubled allowing both runners to reach home safely making it a 3-1 score. Peru State used two hits to score two runs in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3 score. Then, Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) came in relief and induced two fly-outs in the top of the sixth inning. The Vikings put together a productive at-bat in the bottom half, as B. Vela and Rouin both walked, Castruita singled, and Simons also singled to center field, bringing home two runners. C. Vela singled allowing Castruita to score and put the advantage at 6-3. The Bobcats threatened in the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases using three errors by the Vikings but Shuff got out of the jam, and Missouri Valley earned a 6-3 win to sweep the game. 

C. Vela led with three hits, two runs and one RBI, while Simons had one hit, one scored run and two RBI's. Bettencourt finished with one hit and three RBI's. Castruita and B. Vela both added one hit and one run. Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centurion, South Africa) earned the win, going 4.1 innings with seven hits and two earned runs while recording two strikeouts.

Missouri Valley improves to 13-15 overall and 7-1 in the Heart.  Peru State drops to 4-26 on the season and 1-5 in the conference.

Up next, the Vikings travel to Fayette, Mo., for a Heart doubleheader against Central Methodist (Mo.), Wednesday at 3 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.