Softball Finishes Off Road Sweep at Peru State

Peru, Neb., (April 8, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Peru, Neb., for a Saturday afternoon Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Peru State (Neb.).  The Vikings opened with a 3-1 win in game one, followed by a 10-2 win to finish off the sweep.

Missouri Valley went in front early in the first game, as Senior Centerfielder Vivana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) walked and stole second base.  Later in the inning, Senior Designated Player Lauren Caswell (Santa Claus, Ind.) brought Gamez home with a two-out single to put MVC on top, 1-0.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) followed by striking out the side in the bottom of the first.  Sophomore Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) and Junior Catcher Carly Powley (Keenesburg, Colo.) each singled in the second inning but both were left stranded.  Horsten left one on-base in the bottom of the second, then took down the Bobcats in order in the third with a pair of strikeouts.  The Vikings added to their lead in the fourth as the rally was started on a single from Senior Second Baseman Ashley Cox (Yreka, Calif.), who came home on a Vela triple.  Senior Rightfielder Madison Alexander (Louisville, Ky.) scored Vela with a single to make it a 3-0 advantage.  Peru State cut into its deficit in the bottom of the inning, which started with a solo homer.  The Bobcats put another runner on-base, but Horsten got out of the inning with the score at 3-1.  The Vikings were unable to create from the plate through the rest of the game.  Peru State tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, producing with two outs.  After Horsten struck out the first two batters, PSC added two singles to bring the winning run to the plate.  Horsten closed out the complete-game with one more strikeout, and Missouri Valley won, 3-1.

Brianna Vela had two hits, one run and one RBI, and Cox added two hits and one run scored.  Caswell and Alexander finished with one hit and one RBI each.  Horsten pitched a complete-game, giving up five hits with one earned run and a season-high 12 strikeouts.

Game two featured more early offense for Missouri Valley, as Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.) tripled with two outs, then came home on a single from Sophomore First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) to make it a 1-0 score.  Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) got out the first inning with help from a double play started by Cox to keep PSC scoreless.  The Vikings increased their advantage in the second inning, which started on a double from Cox, along with a single from Junior Catcher Baylee Smuin (Vernal, Utah).  Cox then stole home to make it a 2-0 score.  Later in the at-bat, Sophomore Leftfielder Caitlyn Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) reached on an error that allowed Gamez and Smuin to score and put the lead at 4-0.  Rademann got out of a jam in the second inning, stranding two runners.  After a scoreless third inning, MVC put the game out of reach in the fourth.  With two outs, Gamez and Caitlyn Vela both singled.  The pair came home on a double from Mendoza, and a single from Newmyer brought home Mendoza.  Cox capped a six-run inning with a three-run homer to make it a 10-0 advantage.  Peru State produced a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, but Junior Pitcher Makenzie Aguiar (Tulare, Calif.) struck out a pair of batters to end the rally.  Aguiar then faced the minimum in the fifth and finished out a 10-2 victory.

Cox led with three hits, two runs scored and three RBI's with the homer.  Mendoza had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI's, and Newmyer added two hits, one run scored and two RBI's  Gamez had one hit and two runs scored.  Rademann picked up the win, going three innings with four hits and one earned run.

The pair of wins move Missouri Valley to 18-12 overall and 7-3 in the Heart.  Peru State drops to 5-24 on the season and 2-10 in the conference.

Up next, the Vikings host No. 18 Central Methodist (Mo.) in a Heart doubleheader, Wednesday at 3 p.m., at Lyon Bowl.

 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.