Softball Drops Home Doubleheader to Baker

Marshall, Mo., (March 21, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team welcomed Baker (Kan.) into Cargill Field for a heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings fell in both teams by scores of 4-1 and 6-2.

Game one began with Baker moving in front early, producing one run on one hit and one MVC error in the top of the first inning.  Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) followed by taking down the Wildcats in order in the top of the second inning, striking out one batter, and working around a two-out single in the top of the third to strand the runner on-base.  Baker followed with a rally in the top of the fourth, producing three runs on four hits and one error to extend the team's lead to 4-0.  Missouri Valley produced its first base runners in the bottom half of the inning, as Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) led off the at-bat with a single, and Freshman First Baseman Gabriella White (Pittsburg, Kan.) also reached with a single.  However, the two were left stranded to end the threat.  The Wildcats tried to stretch their advantage in the top of the fifth, but Freshman Pitcher Sienna Saggiani (Palos Verdes, Calif.) got out of a two-one and one-out jam to keep BU scoreless.  The Vikings followed with a leadoff triple from Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) in the bottom half of the fifth.  Castruita came home on a grounder from Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.), and MVC trailed, 4-1.  Baker was held scoreless in its final two at-bats, but Missouri Valley could only produce one more base runner late in the game, and fell by a 4-1 score.

Castruita had one hit and one run scored, while Foster, White and Junior Designated Player Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa) each had one hit.  Saggiani pitched 3.1 innings in relief and gave up only two hits with no runs.

The second game started with early production from the plate by Baker, using three hits to score two runs and hold a 2-0 advantage.  Missouri Valley put runners on-base in its first inning at-bat.  Foster opened with reaching safely on a catcher's interference, followed by advancing to second base on a steal.  Back-to-back singles from White and Senior Designated Player Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) allowed Foster to score, and MVC cut the gap down to 2-1.  The Wildcats added another run in the second, then tacked on two more runs in the top of the third.  The Vikings worked a double-play, started by Sophomore Second Basemen Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) to help get out of a jam in the third inning.  Another run for BU came home in the fourth inning, and MVC trailed, 6-1.  The bottom of the fourth began with a double from Dilla, who was left stranded on-base.  Baker looked to threaten again in the fifth, but the Vikings turned another double-play, started by Loucas to get out of the inning.  Missouri Valley cut into its deficit in the bottom of the fifth as Foster reached safely on a single.  Later in the inning, two-out singles from White and Casjens allowed Foster to reach home safely, and make it a 6-2 score.  The Vikings were unable to rally any close late in the game, and lost, 6-2.

Foster had two hits and two runs scored, while Casjens added two hits and two RBIs.  White finished with two hits and Dilla had one hit. Sophomore Pitcher Gabriella Branson (Petersburg, Ill.) pitched the final 3.2 innings, giving up one hit with one strikeout.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 2-22 overall and 0-8 in the Heart.  Baker improves to 14-9 on the season and 2-2 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team will travel to Columbia, Mo., for a non-conference doubleheader against Stephens (Mo.), Wednesday at 12 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.