Softball Tops Peru State to Split Final Doubleheader of the Season

Peru, Neb., (April 26, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Peru, Neb., for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader to close the season, Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings used a big win in game two, 12-4, to split the doubleheader.

Game two started with the teams staying scoreless through the opening two innings of play.  Freshman Pitcher Andreina Buonafina worked around a one-out single in the first inning, then induced a double-play to Freshman Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) to end the bottom of the second inning.  Missouri Valley put together a long rally in the top of the third, as Senior Leftfielder Audrey Short (St. Joseph, Ill.) singled to score Junior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.), followed by a single from Junior First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrietta, Calif.) to bring home Short and Junior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.).  A triple from Junior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) allowed Bettencourt to reach home safely, and the five-run inning was capped on a Sophomore Third Baseman Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) single to score Casjens.  Peru State followed with one run in the bottom half of the inning, but Buonafina worked a double-play and a fly-out to help strand two runners on-base, and keep the score at 5-1.

Missouri Valley added to its lead in the fourth, as Short reached on an error that allowed Foster to score, and a passed ball brought home Castruita from third.  Loucas singled to drive in Short, while a sac-fly from Senior Designated Player Brittney Slocum (Clovis, Calif.) finished off the inning with MVC holding a 9-1 advantage.  The Bobcats cut into their deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Buonafina worked through the PSC lineup in order in the fifth, then again in the sixth.  The Vikings added to their lead in the seventh, as Slocum singled to score Bettencourt, and a Junior Rightfielder Ella Dillon (Sumner, Wash.) double brought home both Keller and Casjens.  A pair of fielder's choice grounders and a game-ending strikeout closed the bottom of the seventh inning, and gave Missouri Valley a 12-4 win.

Short had three hits, two runs and two RBIs, while both Loucas and Keller added two hits, one run and one RBI.  Slocum and Dillon had two hits and drove in two runs apiece, and Castruita had two hits and two runs scored.  Bettencourt added one hit, two runs and two RBIs, and Casjens finished with one hit, two runs and one RBI.  Buonafina pitched a complete-game, giving up eight hits, four earned runs and two strikeouts.

The Vikings dropped the first game of the doubleheader, 14-4.  Keller had two hits and one run, while Slocum added two hits.  Junior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) totaled one hit, one run and two RBIs.  

Missouri Valley ends its season with a 9-39 record overall and a 2-22 record in the Heart.  Peru State sits at 10-34 on the season and 5-19 in the conference.

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.