Softball Falls in Two Close Games Played at St. Ambrose

Davenport, Iowa, (Feb. 15, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team played another pair of non-conference games in Davenport, Iowa, Sunday.  The Vikings opened with a 4-1 loss to Midland (Neb.), and then fell in a low-scoring game to St. Ambrose (Iowa), 2-1. 

The game against Midland started with the Warriors taking an early lead, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first.  Both teams were taken down in order in the second inning, but Midland used three hits to add two more runs in the bottom of the third to hold a 4-0 advantage.  Missouri Valley threatened in the top of the fourth, as Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.) walked and Freshman Designated Player Alex Whaley (Greenville, Fla.) singled, but both runners were left stranded.  Both teams were unable to produce any runs in the fifth and sixth, and Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Ca.) struck out one batter in each inning to keep the scoreboard close.  The top of the seventh featured a solo home run from Carvalho to cut its deficit down, but the Vikings were unable to climb back late, and fell by a final score of 4-1.

Carvalho had one hit, with one RBI and one run scored to go with her solo home run. Both Whaley and Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) had one hit each.  The loss went to Freshman Pitcher Sienna Saggiani (Palos Verdes, Calif.), who pitched 4.0 innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs with one strikeout.

Game two against St. Ambrose started with Missouri Valley threatening in the top of the first inning, as Sophomore Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wis.) led off with a single, Junior Catcher Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa) reached first on a SAU error, and Senior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) singled, but Loucas was out at home.  Later in the inning, Senior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) reached first on a fielder's choice, but the Vikings were unable to score, as two runners were left stranded on-base.  Sophomore Pitcher Andreina Buonafina (Guatemala) held the Fighting Bees scoreless in the first and second inning, inducing one a fly-out and four groundouts to keep the game tied, 0-0.  Both teams were taken down in order in the third, but St. Ambrose eventually opened the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, using three hits to produce two runs and hold a 2-0 advantage.  Missouri Valley got one run back in the top of the fifth, as Sophomore First Baseman Addison Bartlett (Lawson, Mo.) walked, Castruita followed with a sac-bunt to move its runner to third base, and Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) singled to allow Bartlett to reach home safely to make it a 2-1 score.  After a scoreless bottom half, The Vikings started the top of the sixth with Casjens reaching first on a SAU error and Brickner reached first on a fielder's choice. Then, Carvalho singled but St. Ambrose ended the at-bat with a double play, leaving two runners stranded.  Missouri Valley was not able to rally late in the game, and fell, 2-1.

Foster finished with one hit and one RBI, while Bartlett scored one run. Loucas, Casjens, Carvalho and Castruita each added one hit apiece. Buonafina picked up the loss, going 4.2 innings with five hits and two earned runs.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 0-4 on the season.  

Up next, the Viking softball team will travel to Leavenworth, Kan., for a non-conference doubleheader against St. Mary (Kan.), Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m.

Midland 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.