Softball Plays Home Doubleheader Against Mount Mercy

Marshall, Mo., (April 3, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball team hosted Mount Mercy (Iowa), for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon inside Cargill Field.  The Vikings fell in extra-innings in the first game, and dropped the second game. 

Game one started with a scoreless first and second inning, as Sophomore Pitcher Andreina Buonafina (Guatemala) took the Mustangs down in order in both innings.  Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) singled in the bottom of the second, but was left stranded.  After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Buonafina induced a double-play to Castruita in the top of the fourth to keep the scoreboard tied, 0-0.  The bottom half of the inning featured a single from Sophomore Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wis.), but she was unable to reach home.  Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings.  Buonafina struck out a batter in the top of the seventh, keeping the game tied, 0-0.  Missouri Valley threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as Castruita led off with a single, and Senior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) followed with a double to left field, but Castruista was out at home, and the game went into an eighth inning, still tied.  Mount Mercy eventually created from the plate in the top of the eighth, using six hits and two MVC errors to hold a 6-0 advantage.  The Vikings put two runners on-base, as Senior Centerfielder Jesykah Foster (Garden City, Kan.) and Loucas each singled, but they were left stranded, and Missouri Valley fell by a 6-0 score.

Castruita had three hits, while both Loucas and Foster finished with two hits each.  Buonafina went 7.1 innings, giving up ten hits and four earned runs with one strikeout.

The second game began with the teams staying scoreless through the opening three innings of play.  The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the first, as Foster walked, Freshman First Baseman Gabriella White (Pittsburg, Kan.) singled, and Sophomore Designated Player Jordan Pasbrig (Moberly, Mo.) walked to load the bases, but a double-play ended the at-bat.  Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Ca.) faced the minimum in the top of the third, striking out one batter.  After a scoreless inning for Missouri Valley, the Mustangs eventually opened the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, using six hits and three MVC errors to produce six runs, making it a 6-0 score.  Mount Mercy took down the Vikings in order in the bottom of the fourth, and added another run in the top of the fifth to hold a 7-0 advantage.  Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.)  doubled to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, but she was left stranded.  Both teams were taken down in order in the sixth inning, where Freshman Pitcher Sienna Saggiani (Palos Verdes, Calif.) induced two fly-outs.  After a scoreless seventh inning for Mount Mercy,  Missouri Valley tried to work back late in the game, as Junior Catcher Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa) led off with a double, Castruita followed with a single to center field, and Carvalho brought Dilla home with a double. Later in the at-bat, two runners were left stranded, and the Vikings fell, 7-1

Carvalho led with two hits and one RBI. Dilla had one hit and one run scored, while White, Castruita and Brickner finished with one hit each.  

Missouri Valley drops to 4-28 on the season and 1-13 in the conference.  Mount Mercy improves to 12-20 overall and 7-7 in the Heart.

Up next, the Viking softball team will host Clarke (Iowa) in a Heart doubleheader, Wednesday 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.