Softball Opens Heart Play With Doubleheader at Benedictine

Atchison, Kan., (March 13, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team opened play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a road doubleheader, Friday afternoon, in Atchison, Kan., against Benedictine (Kan.).

Game one started with both teams taken down in order in the first inning, as Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) induced three-straight groundouts.  Freshman First Baseman Gabriella White (Pittsburg, Kan.) recorded the first hit of the contest, with a two-out double in the top of the second inning, but was left stranded.  Bendecitine threatened in the bottom of the second, putting two runners on-base with one out.  Shuff got out of the jam to strand the two runners and keep the game scoreless.  The Ravens broke through in the bottom of the third, putting together a four hit, four run rally to move in front.  Benedictine added one more run in the fourth, then scored another three runs in the fifth.  The Vikings were unable to put a runner into scoring position in the final innings of the game, and fell, 8-0.

White and Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) each recorded one hit.

Missouri Valley went in front early in game two, which started on a single from Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.).  Later in the inning, Senior Designated Player Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) brought home Foster with a double, and the Vikings held a 1-0 lead.  Benedictine responded with a rally in the bottom half of the inning, using four hits to produce three runs to make it a 3-1 score.  The Ravens added to their advantage in the bottom of the second inning, on a solo homer, the tacked on another run in the third to sit with a 5-1 lead.  Missouri Valley cut into its deficit in the top of the fourth, as White reached with a one-out double, and came home on a two-out single from Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.).  The run was answered by BC in the bottom half of the fourth, as the score sat at 6-2.  The Vikings were unable to chip away at their deficit late in the game, while Benedictine tacked on three more runs in the third, and another run in the sixth to finish at a 10-2 score.

Casjens had two hits and one RBI, and White added two hits.  Foster finished with one hit and one run, while Carvalho had one hit and one RBI.

Missouri Valley drops to 2-16 overall and 0-2 in the Heart.  Benedictine improves to 15-7 on the season and 2-0 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team will host William Woods (Mo.) in a Heart doubleheader, Wednesday at 1 p.m.  Games will be played at Wood & Huston Field at Indian Foothills Park.

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.