Softball Splits Road Doubleheader at Avila

Kansas City, Mo., (Feb. 26, 2025)-  The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday afternoon, for a non-conference doubleheader against Avila (Mo.).  The Vikings won the opener, 5-2, but dropped the second game, 5-2.

Missouri Valley went in front early in the opening game.  Junior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) earned a leadoff walk, advanced to second base on a passed ball, then scored on a grounder hit into the outfield to put the Vikings ahead, 1-0.  The bottom half of the inning ended when Junior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) threw out a runner trying to reach third base, which ended the scoring threat for Avila.  Junior Pitcher Kyleigh Villarreal (Fenton, Mo.) followed by taking down the Eagles in order in the bottom of the second inning, striking out one batter.  The Vikings put together a rally in the top of the third, which started on a walk from Foster.  Freshman Third Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) doubled, to put both runners in scoring position, and the pair came home on a single from Senior Shortstop Brittney Slocum (Clovis, Calif.) to center.  Later in the at-bat, Sophomore Designated Player Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) and Junior Second Baseman Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) singled to load the bases, and Slocum was brought home on another single to center, this time by Junior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.).  Missouri Valley stranded the bases loaded, but built up a 4-0 advantage.  Villarreal faced the minimum again in the third, while AU cut its deficit down with one run in the bottom of the fourth.

The fifth inning started with Missouri Valley getting that run back, as Junior First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) knocked out a solo homer.  Castruita, Brickner and Freshman Rightfielder Morgan Clubb (Oak Grove, Mo.) all singled to load the bases with two outs, but the trio were left on-base as the score sat at 5-1.  Neither team could change the score line until the bottom of the sixth, when AU hit a two-run homer to cut the gap down to 5-2.  The Vikings were unable to increase their lead in the top of the seventh, and Villarreal closed out a complete-game, striking out one batter and stranding one runner in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the 5-2 win.

Castruita led with three hits, while Brickner added two hits.  Slocum totaled one hit, one run and two RBI's, while both Loucas and Bettencourt added one hit, one run and one RBI apiece.  Villarreal pitched a complete-game, giving up five hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts.

Game two started with Avila taking an early lead, using two hits to score one run in the bottom of the first inning.  After Missouri Valley was taken down in order in the top of the second inning, the Eagles threatened in the bottom half, putting a pair on-base, but Junior Catcher Sarah De Leon (Los Angeles, Calif.) threw out a runner trying to steal second base to end the inning.  The top of the third started with a leadoff single from Freshman Designated Player Hailey LeMunyon (Maysville, Mo.), who was brought home on a two-out double from Loucas to tie the contest at 1-1.  Clubb started as pitcher and took down AU in order for the first time in the contest in the bottom of the third.  The fourth inning began with a leadoff solo homer from Bettencourt to put MVC on top.  Brickner doubled and De Leon singled later during the at-bat, but the two were left stranded.  Clubb faced the minimum again in the bottom half of the fourth to keep the Vikings in front, 2-1.

The top of the fifth featured a single from Loucas, and a single from Bettencourt.  Loucas tried to score on the Bettencourt base-hit, but was thrown out at home to end the inning.  Avila went back in front in the bottom of the inning, using three hits to produce two runs and make it a 3-2 score.  The Vikings were unable to create any offense in the sixth inning, while AU added another two runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Castruita led off the seventh with a double, and tried to score on a Slocum single, but was thrown out at the plate to end the game as Missouri Valley fell, 5-2.

Loucas totaled three hits and one RBI while Bettencourt had two hits and one run scored.  Clubb went 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs.

Missouri Valley moves to 2-4 one season, while Avila sits at 3-5.

Up next, the Viking softball team will host a weekend of doubleheaders at Lyon Bowl and Indian Foothills Park.  Saturday is a 1 p.m., doubleheader against Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.), followed by a Sunday doubleheader against William Woods (Mo.), starting at 1 p.m.

Game One Box Score-Click Here

Game Two 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.