Softball Splits Against No. 18 Central Methodist

Marshall, Mo., (April 12, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College softball team welcomed in No. 18 Central Methodist (Mo.) to Lyon Bowl for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday.  The Vikings won the opening game, 7-1, but fell late in the second game, 3-1, to split the doubleheader.

Game one opened with Central Methodist using a pair of singles to put two runners on base with no outs.  Senior Pitcher Paige Rademann (Jefferson City, Mo.) struck out the next batter, but a ground out allowed one runner to score and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.  Central Methodist threatened again in the second inning with a pair of singles, but a line out to Sophomore Third Baseman Brianna Vela (Kingsburg, Calif.) left the two runners stranded.  Missouri Valley followed with a long rally in the bottom of the inning as both Senior Designated Player Lauren Caswell (Santa Clause, Ind.) and Sophomore First Baseman Morgan Newmyer (Davenport, Iowa) walked.  Senior Second Baseman Ahsley Cox (Yreka, Calif.) singled to load the bases, and Junior Catcher Carly Powley (Keenesburg, Colo.) singled to bring home Caswell.  Vela drew a bases loaded walk to score Newmyer.  Later in the inning, Senior Centerfielder Viviana Gamez (Newark, Calif.) walked to score Cox, and Freshman Shortstop Aidee Mendoza (Santa Ana, Calif.) finished off the inning with a two-run single to put the MVC advantage at 5-1.

Rademann followed by taking down CMU in order in the third, while Powley added to the lead with a sac-fly that scored Caswell in the bottom half of the third.  After a scoreless fourth inning, the Vikings tacked on another run in the fifth.  Powley drove in another run, this time on a single to make it a 7-1 score.  Rademann worked around a two-out single in the sixth, striking out one batter in the inning, and MVC went into the seventh on top.  The Eagles put its leadoff batter on-base, but Mendoza made a play at short for the first out, while Gamez caught a fly ball in centerfield to put Missouri Valley one out away from the win.  After another CMU single put two runners on the bases, a grounder back to Rademann ended the game, 7-1, in favor of the Vikings.

Powley finished with two hits and three RBI's, while Caswell had one hit and two runs scored.  Mendoza added one hit and two RBI's, while Gamez had one hit, one run and one RBI.  Rademann pitched a complete-game, giving up nine hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.

Missouri Valley took an early lead in the second game, as Gamez knocked out a solo homer to open the bottom of the first inning.  Senior Pitcher Kim Horsten (Moergestel, The Netherlands) struck out two batters in the top of the second inning, and MVC looked to add to its lead in the bottom half.  Newmyer opened the bottom of the second with a single, but the Vikings were unable to capitalize with the leadoff batter on-base.  After a scoreless third inning, Central Methodist threatened in the fourth, putting two runners on-base with one out.  However, Horsten struck out one batter and left both stranded to keep the Vikings in front.  After Horsten took down CMU in order in the top of the fifth, the team opened the bottom of the inning with one single each from Cox and Junior Rightfielder Chrisha Gray (Modesto, Calif.).  However, the two were unable to advance throughout the rest of the inning, and MVC kept a 1-0 advantage.  Horsten struck out another pair of batters in the sixth, and the game went into the seventh inning.  The first batter for Central Methodist was out on a fly ball to leftfield.  However, the Eagles strung together four-straight hits to score two runs and move in front.  A sac-fly later in the inning capped the rally, and put MVC in a 3-1 deficit.  The Vikings were unable to produce a baserunner in the bottom of the seventh, taken down in order, and fell by a final score of 3-1 to split the doubleheader.

Gamez led with one hit, one run and one RBI with a solo homer.  Newmyer, Caitlyn Vela, Cox and Gray each added one hit.  Horsten pitched seven innings, giving up five hits with three earned runs and seven strikeouts.

Missouri Valley moves to 19-13 overall and 8-4 in the Heart.  Central Methodist sits at 22-8 and 9-3 in the conference.  This was the program's first win over Central Methodist since a 4-2 win back on March 20, 2019.

Up next, the Viking softball team will stay at home, and host Evangel (Mo.) in a doubleheader, Friday at 2 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.