LADY VIKING SOFTBALL TEAM DROPS DOUBLEHEADER TO PERU STATE

LADY VIKING SOFTBALL TEAM DROPS DOUBLEHEADER TO PERU STATE

 

Marshall, Mo. (April 26, 2013)- The Missouri Valley College softball team went on the road to Peru, Neb. Friday for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon.  Peru State took the first game 11-3 and knocked off the Lady Vikings in game two 12-4.

 

The Lady Vikings found themselves in an early hole in game one as Peru State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  The Lady Vikings were able to bounce back and take the lead in the top of the second by scoring three runs.  All three runs came on a Senior Third Baseman Jennifer Palmatory (Cairo, Mo.) homerun to centerfield that scored Junior Catcher Hannah Garczynski (Palm Desert, Calif.) and Sophomore Rightfielder Lisa Luna (Anaheim, Calif.).  Peru State was able to tie the game up at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the third inning.  Both teams were kept scoreless in the fourth inning.  Sophomore First Baseman Megan Fansher (Independence, Mo.) led off the top of the fifth inning with a single, and Luna eventually got on base with a walk, as the Lady Vikings threatened, but MVC left two runners on base to end the inning.  Peru State took control of the game with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  After the Lady Vikings were kept off the board in the top of the sixth inning, Peru State scored another three runs and finished off the ball game by defeating MVC 11-3.  Leading the way for MVC was Palmatory who finished two for three with 3 RBI's and a run scored.  Also with two hits in the game were Garczynski and Fansher.  Picking up the loss on the mound was Senior Pitcher Kim Lopez (La Mirada, Calif.) who gave up 12 hits and 11 runs.

 

Game two started out slow as each team was left scoreless after one inning of play.  The Lady Vikings picked things up in the top of the second inning to take an early lead.  The Lady Vikings scored three runs in the inning, the first coming when Sophomore Rightfielder Shelby Schmitz (Shelbyville, Mo.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  The second and third runs were scored after Junior Shortstop Pricilla Garcia (Camarillo, Calif.) hit a bases loaded single to score Palmatory and Senior First Baseman Mel McClain (Chino, Calif.).  Peru State responded in the bottom of the second inning with five straight hits to begin the inning, and eventually brought seven runs home to take a 7-3 lead after just two innings of play.  Both teams were left scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but the Lady Vikings tried to put together a rally in the top of the fifth.  Garczynski reached on a fielder's choice which brought Junior Second Baseman Kayla Mochizuki home, and the Lady Vikings cut into the Peru State lead making it a 7-4 game.  The Lady Vikings rally that inning ended with two runners stranded, and Peru State quickly responded in their next at-bat.  Peru State scored four runs in the bottom half of that inning, and after keeping the Lady Vikings off the board in the top of the sixth they were able to end the game with one more run, defeating MVC 12-4.  Leading the way for MVC was Mochizuki who went two for four with a run scored.  Also Garcia went one for four with two RBI's.  Picking up the loss was Junior Pitcher Ashley Cobern (Cleveland, Mo.) who gave up 12 hits and 12 runs with four strikeouts.

 

The Lady Vikings drop to 12-16 overall and 6-10 in HAAC play.  Peru State improves to 15-23 on the season and 9-7 in conference play.

 

The Lady Vikings wrap their season Saturday with a doubleheader at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

 

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 40 academic programs, study abroad program, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are agribusiness, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success.