Softball Drops Pair of Games Played at St. Ambrose

Davenport, Iowa, (Feb. 14, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team opened its season with a pair of games in Davenport, Iowa, Saturday. The Vikings fell to both Saint Xavier (Ill.) and St. Ambrose (Iowa).

In the opener against Saint Xavier, the Vikings fell behind early, but the team produced from the plate in the bottom of the second inning.  Senior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) led off with a walk, then came home on a one-out double from Senior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.).  Later in the innings, Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) singled, then stole second base.  An error on the stolen base allowed Casjens to reach home safely.  The Vikings tacked on another run in the bottom of the third, as Brickner singled to score Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.).  Missouri Valley eventually fell by a final score of 16-3.

Foster led with two hits and one run scored.  Castruita finished with two hits, while both Brickner and Casjens had one hit, one run scored and one RBI apiece. 

Against St. Ambrose, Missouri Valley went into an early deficit once again, this time by a 2-0 score after the first inning.  The Vikings threatened in the top of the second inning, as Brickner led off with a single, followed by a single from Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.).  However, a pair of fielder's choice outs and a strikeout ended the chance for MVC, and the team still trailed by two runs.  Freshman Pitcher Sienna Saggiani (Palos Verdes, Calif.) worked around a one-out error in the bottom half of the inning, leaving one runner stranded.  The top of the third featured two-out production for Missouri Valley, as Junior Catcher Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Casjens both singled, with Dilla eventually reaching third base.  Brickner then drove Dilla home with a single, and MVC cut its deficit down to 2-1.  The Fighting Bees added to their advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one run.  Dilla was able to tag another runner trying to score at the plate to keep MVC at a 3-1 deficit.

Missouri Valley threatened in the top of the fifth, as Dilla doubled, Casjens was intentionally walked, and the pair advanced into scoring position with a passed ball, all coming with two outs.  However, the two were left on-base to end the at-bat.  Saggiani worked around a one-out single in the fifth, then faced the minimum in the sixth.  However, the Vikings were unable to rally late, and fell by a final score of 3-1.

Dilla finished with two hits and one run, while Brickner had two hits and one RBI.  Foster, Casjens and Carvalho each added one hit apiece.  Saggiani pitched all six innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 0-2 on the season. 

Up next, the Vikings play two more games in Davenport, Iowa, Sunday.  First game at 8:30 a.m., against Midland (Neb.) followed by a 10:45 a.m., rematch with St. Ambrose.

Saint Xavier Box Score-Click Here

St. Ambrose 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.