Softball Falls to MidAmerica Nazarene on Senior Day

Marshall, Mo., (April 12, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College softball team hosted MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Lyon Bowl.  The Vikings dropped the opening game, 7-0, and led early in the second game but fell 6-4.

Game one opened with MidAmerica Nazarene loading all bases, but Sophomore Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) got out of the jam, as Junior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) threw out a runner trying to reach home, and left three runners stranded.  Missouri Valley was taken down in order in the bottom of the first inning, and then both teams were kept scoreless in the second and third inning.  The Pioneers eventually opened the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, using three hits and one MVC error to produce two runs to make it a 2-0 score.  The bottom half of the inning featured a single from Junior First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.), who then advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left stranded.  MidAmerica Nazarene extended their lead in the fifth inning, as they produced two runs on three hits and one MVC error, holding a 4-0 advantage.  After a scoreless inning for the Vikings, MNU added three more runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 7-0 score.  Missouri Valley was unable to produce any runs in the bottom of the seventh, and fell by a final score of 7-0.

Bettencourt finished with one hit and Shuff pitched 4.0 innings, giving up ten hits and two earned runs.

The second game started with Freshman Pitcher Morgan Clubb (Oak Grove, Mo.) striking out one batter in the top of the first inning.  Missouri Valley went in front in the bottom half, as Senior Rightfielder Audrey Short (St. Joseph, Ill.) singled, advanced to third on a grounder from Freshman Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.), and then scored on a single from Bettencourt to make it a 1-0 score.  After a scoreless inning for the Pioneers, Sophomore Third Baseman Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) and Junior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) both doubled, and with two runners on-base, Short brought Keller home on a single, and MVC held a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Both teams were taken down in order in the third inning, but MidAmerica Nazarene used one hit and one MVC error to score one run, cutting into their deficit in the top of the fourth, 2-1.  Missouri Valley got the run back in the bottom half, as Keller singled, advanced to second on a grounder from Foster, and then came home on a single from Castruita, 3-1. 

The Pioneers rallied in the fifth inning, using four hits and one MVC error to score five runs to move in front, 6-3.  After a scoreless fifth for the Vikings, Freshman Pitcher Andreina Buonafina induced two fly-outs in the top of the sixth to keep the scoreboard close.  Missouri Valley added one run in the bottom half of the inning, as Senior Designated Player Brittney Slocum (Clovis, Calif.) singled, Keller walked, then both moved up one base on a grounder from Foster, and Castruita doubled to bring home Slocum and close the gap down to 6-4.  The Vikings were unable to rally late in the game, as they were taken down in order in the seventh inning, and MVC fell, 6-4.

Keller led with two hits and two runs, Short followed with two hits, one run and one RBI.  Slocum finished with one hit and one run, while Castruita had two hits and two RBIs, and Bettencourt added one hit and one RBI.  Clubb went 4.1 innings, giving up four hits and four earned runs with one strikeout.

The pair of losses drops Missouri Valley to 7-33 on the season and 0-16 in the Heart, while Midamerica Nazarene improves to 16-20 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

Up next, the Vikings softball team will travel to Baldwin City (Kan.), for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with Baker (Kan.), Friday, starting at 1 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score - Click Here

Game 2 Box Score - Click Here

About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.