Softball Splits Road Doubleheader at MidAmerica Nazarene

Olathe, Kan. (April 20, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Olathe, Kan., for a Saturday afternoon Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.).  The Vikings opened with a 2-1 win in game one, then fell in a close second game, 5-4.

Game one started with both teams failing to produce from the plate in the first inning.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) struck out a pair of batters in the bottom of the first.  Missouri Valley threatened in the second inning as Junior Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) led off with a single, and was followed by a walk from Freshman First Baseman Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.).  However, the Vikings were unable to bring either of the runners home, and stranded two on-base.  Horsten followed by taking down MNU in order in the bottom of the second, then worked around a single in the third, striking out two batters to keep the game scoreless.  

Missouri Valley broke through in the top of the fifth inning, as Sophomore Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) knocked a one-out double, followed by singles from Sophomore Leftfielder Hailey Simons (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Sophomore Rightfielder Sophie De Rouin (Vienna, Austria) to load the bases.  Junior Centerfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) then brought home Castruita with a sac-fly, and MVC went ahead, 1-0.  Horsten struck out one, and ended the bottom of the fifth with a grounder back to the pitcher to keep the Vikings on top.  The top of the sixth featured some two-out offense for Missouri Valley, as Castruita drove home Sophomore Pinch Runner Jena Emerson (Live Oak, Calif.) with a single to move the lead to 2-0.  The Pioneers cut into their deficit in the bottom half of the inning, using two singles and a sac-bunt to create one run.  MidAmerica Nazarene had the go-ahead run on-base, but Horsten induced a groundout to Junior Second Baseman Avery Gifford (Kansas City, Mo.) to end the threat and keep MVC in front, 2-1.  The Vikings were unable to increase their lead in the top of the seventh, and Horsten finished out a complete-game by taking down MNU in order to secure the 2-1 win.

Castruita led with two hits, one run and one RBi, while De Rouin, Brianna Vela and Simons each had one hit.  Horsten pitched the tenth complete-game of the season, giving up four hits and one earned run with six strikeouts.

Missouri Valley started the second game with a single from De Rouin and a double from Gifford in the top of the first inning, but could not score either of the runners.  Senior Pitcher Cherrelee Miles (Centurion, South Africa) then worked around a leadoff single from MidAmerica Nazarene in the bottom half of the inning to keep the game scoreless.  The top of the second inning featured a single from Sophomore Catcher Makayla (Galt, Mo.) Casjens and Sophomore Designated Player Stella Cashin (Alameda, Calif.) reached safely on an error.  The two were moved into scoring position, but neither came home safely in the at-bat.  The Pioneers followed with one run on two hits to move in front, 1-0.  Missouri Valley got out of the bottom of the second without surrendering any more runs as Keller started an inning-ending double-play at first base.  Miles took down MNU in order in the bottom of the third to keep the Vikings in a one-run deficit.

MidAmerica Nazarene added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth, using four hits to eventually produce two runs and make it a 3-0 score.  Missouri Valley put together a rally in the top of the fifth, with most of the work coming after two outs.  Caitlyn Vela drove home the first run with a double, and Caitlyn Vela came home as Gifford singled.  Brianna Vela added another double to score Gifford, and MVC worked back to a 3-3 tie.  The Pioneers responded with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to move back in front, 5-3.  The Vikings threatened again in the sixth, as Senior Catcher Cris Aguilar (Livingston, Calif.), Castruita and Simons all singled to load the bases with one out, but two-straight fielder's choice grounders forced runners out at home to keep MVC in the two-run deficit.  The top of the seventh featured a one-out double from Brianna Vela, who came home on a single from Aguilar.  The Vikings had the go-ahead run at the plate, but could not continue the rally to fall by a 5-4 score.

Gifford and Brianna Vela each finished with two hits, one run and one RBI, while Aguilar had two hits and one RBI.  Caitlyn Vela totaled one hit, one run and one RBI, and Castruita finished with one hit and one run.  Miles went four innings with seven hits and three earned runs.

Missouri Valley moves to 17-21 overall and 11-7 in the Heart.  MidAmerica Nazarene sits at 27-19 on the season and 12-8 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team goes to Fayette, Mo., for a Heart doubleheader with No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.), Tuesday 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.