Softball Splits Home Doubleheader Against Stephens

Marshall, Mo., (Mar. 17, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College softball team hosted Stephens (Mo.) Monday afternoon at Lyon Bowl in a non-conference doubleheader. The Vikings fell in the opener, 6-0, but followed with a high-scoring win in game two, 14-0, to split the doubleheader.

The first game started with Stephens going in front early, using four hits to score three runs in the top of the first to make it a 3-0 score. After a scoreless second inning, the Stars added one more run on one hit in the third inning to hold a 4-0 advantage. Freshman Third Baseman Jordan Pasbrig (Moberly, Mo.) doubled to left field but was left stranded, and the Vikings were unable to produce any runs in the bottom half. Junior Pitcher Kyleigh Villarreal (Fenton, Mo.) faced the minimum in the fourth, and Missouri Valley threatened as Freshman Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) reached first on an error and then advanced to second base, Junior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) also reached first on a Stars error, but the two were left stranded. Stephens continued to extend their lead, using one hit to produce one run in both the fifth and sixth inning to put the advantage at 6-0. The Vikings were taken down in order in the bottom half of the sixth. Then, Junior Pinch Hitter Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) led off the seventh inning with a single to center field, and Pasbrig followed with a single putting two runners on-base but Missouri Valley was unable to produce any runs and fell by a final score of 6-0.

Pasbrig totaled two hits, while Bettencourt had one hit. Villareal went 5.0 innings, giving up eight hits and six earned runs with three strikeouts.

Game two opened with Freshman Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) striking out two batters in the first inning, and Missouri Valley followed with a long rally in the bottom half. Junior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) started with a single and scored on a Stephens error, Loucas reached first on another error, and then scored on a double from Bettencourt. Pasbrig followed with a single, Junior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) walked, and Junior Leftfielder Taya Brickner brought home two runners with a double to make it a 4-0 score. Later in the inning, Junior Rightfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) doubled to bring home Pasbrig and Bettencourt, then Junior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) walked, and Villareal added a three RBI double to hold a 7-0 advantage. The Vikings had loaded bases and the final runs in the bottom of the first came, as Senior Leftfielder Audrey Short (St. Joseph, Ill.) singled, stole second and scored as Castruita reached first on an error from Stephens, and Villareal reached home safely on an error by the third baseman. Shuff faced the minimum in the second and third inning, striking out two batters.  

After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Vikings increased their lead in the bottom of the third as Short walked, stole second and then scored on a double from Castruita. Loucas also walked, stole second and Castruita scored on an error by the catcher to make it an 11-0 score. Bettencourt reached first on a Stars error, Pasbrig followed with a double to left field allowing Loucas to come home. Later in the third, Brickener singled, bringing home a runner, while Pasbrig scored as Foster grounded out to second baseman to stretch their advantage to 14-0. Shuff took down Stephens in order, inducing two groundouts and one strikeout in the top of the fifth, and the Vikings secured a 14-0 victory.

Castruita led with two hits, two scored runs and three RBI's, Brickner followed with three hits, one run and three RBI's. Pasbrig had two hits, two runs and one RBI, while Villareal finished with one hit, one run and three RBI's. Bettencourt added one hit, two scored runs and one RBI, and Short had one hit and two runs. Shuff pitched the complete game, giving up four hits with no earned runs and five strikeouts.

Missouri Valley moves to 7-15 on the season, while Stephens (Mo.) sits at 6-10 overall.

Up next, the Vikings softball team will host William Penn (Iowa) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader, March 22, starting at 1 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.