Softball Drops Road Games at Culver-Stockton

Canton, Mo., (March 28, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Canton, Mo., for a Saturday afternoon Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).  The Vikings fell in game one, 9-1, then dropped the second game by a 7-3 final score.

The first game started with Culver-Stockton producing from the plate in the bottom of the first inning, using four hits to eventually score four runs to take an early lead.  Missouri Valley got one of those runs back in the top of the second inning, as Senior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) singled with two outs, and eventually came home on a single from Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.) to cut the deficit down to 4-1.  Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) got out of the bottom of the second without giving up another run, stranding two on-base, then left one stranded with one strikeout in the third, and took down CSC in order in the bottom of the fourth inning, striking out one batter.  The Vikings threatened in the top of the fifth, as Senior Rightfielder Ella Dillon (Sumner, Wash.) singled with two outs, followed by a walk from Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.).  However, the two were left on-base to end the at-bat.  Culver-Stockton put together a rally in the bottom half of the inning, using four hits to produce four runs and extend the advantage out to 8-1.  After a scoreless top of the sixth inning, CSC tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Vikings, 9-1.

Brickner had one hit and one run scored, while Carvalho added one hit and one RBI.  Freshman First Baseman Gabriella White (Pittsburg, Kan.), Junior Designated Player Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Dillon each had one hit.  Shuff went five innings giving up one earned run with four strikeouts.

Culver-Stockton moved out to an early lead in the second game, using five hits and one Viking error to create four runs.  The second inning featured CSC adding another two runs to its total, and sit with a 6-0 advantage.  Missouri Valley cut into its deficit in the top of the third, as Carvalho was hit by a pitch to start the at-bat.  Later in the inning, Sophomore Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) brought home Carvalho on a two-out single to put the gap at 6-1.  Freshman Pitcher Kennedy Orney (Sylvania, Ohio) worked around a leadoff double for the Wildcats in the bottom half of the third by retiring the next three batters and stranding the runner on-base.  Culver-Stockton tacked on another run in the fourth inning, and MVC trailed by a 7-1 score going into the top of the seventh.  Carvalho reached safely on a one-out single, and eventually came home on a two-out single from Foster.  Later in the inning, White singled to score Foster, and MVC had two runners on-base with two outs.  However, that is where the rally ended, and Missouri Valley fell by a final score of 7-3.

Carvalho finished with two hits and two runs scored, while White had two hits and one RBI.  Dilla added two hits, and Foster had one hit and one run.  Loucas totaled one hit and one RBI.  Junior Pitcher Melanie Perez (Monterrey, Mexico) pitched three innings in relief, giving up four hits and no runs with one strikeout.

Missouri Valley drops to 3-25 on the season and 0-10 in the conference.  Culver-Stockton improves to 18-16 overall and 5-7 in the Heart.

Up next, the Viking softball team will host Peru State (Neb.) in a Heart doubleheader, Sunday at 2 p.m., inside Cargill 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.