Softball Splits Doubleheader at Culver-Stockton

Canton, Mo., (April 25, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College softball team traveled to Canton, Mo., for a Friday afternoon Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).  Playing as the home team, Missouri Valley split the two games, winning the opener, 4-3, then falling in the second contest, 6-1.

Game one started with Sophomore Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) striking out two batters in the top of the first, as the team stayed scoreless going into the second inning.  Culver-Stockton went in front in its second at-bat, using two hits to produce one run.  Missouri Valley answered in the bottom half, as Junior Catcher Makayla Casjens (Galt, Calif.) led off with a double.  Senior Designated Player Brittney Slocum (Clovis, Calif.) knocked a single to center field, and Casjens scored to tie the teams at 1-1.  Shuff worked around an error in the top of the third, to keep the Wildcats scoreless, while the Viking produced from the plate in the bottom half.  Senior Rightfielder Audrey Short (St. Joseph, Ill.) singled, and moved into scoring position with two outs.  Junior First Baseman Olivia Bettencourt (Murrieta, Calif.) brought home Short on a single, and MVC moved in front, 2-1.  Culver-Stockton put together three singles in the top of the fourth, and scored one run to tie the teams once again, 2-2.  Shuff came back in the top of the fifth to face the minimum, as the teams stayed tied going into the sixth inning.

A pair of singles gave CSC two runners on-base with one out.  A hit batter loaded the bases, and a fielder's choice grounder allowed one run to score, and send the Wildcats on top, 3-2.  The bottom half of the inning featured a one-out walk worked by Casjens.  Sophomore Third Baseman Quinlynn Keller (Galt, Calif.) stepped up next, and created a double to bring home Freshman Pinch Runner Morgan Clubb (Oak Grove, Mo.).  A fielding error allowed Junior Pinch Runner Jena Emerson  (Live Oak, Calif.) to score and put the Vikings in front going into the top of the seventh.  Shuff worked around a leadoff single, ending the game with a double-play hit to Junior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) as Missouri Valley earned a 4-3 victory.

Casjens had two hits and one run, while both Keller and Slocum had one hit and one RBI.  Short added one hit and one run.  Shuff pitched a complete-game, giving up nine hits with two earned runs and three strikeouts.

Both teams struggled to produce early in game two.  Freshman Pitcher Andreina Buonafina worked around a hit batter in the top of the first, then a leadoff walk and a single in the top of the second to strand a total of three baserunners and keep the game scoreless.  Buonafina then struck out one batter and took down Culver-Stockton in order in the top of the third.  Casjens ended the top of the fourth inning by throwing out a runner trying to steal second base.  The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth.  Casjens reached safely on a single, and eventually came home on a double by Keller to put Missouri Valley in front, 1-0.  The Wildcats followed with a long rally in the top of the fifth, using five hits and two MVC errors to score six runs and move the team ahead, 6-1.  Castruita singled and Freshman Second Baseman Allison Loucas (Twin Lakes, Wisc.) walked in the bottom half of the inning, but the two were left on-base.  Another two batters reached safely in the bottom of the sixth, as Keller recorded another double, and Slocum singled, but another pair were left stranded.  The Vikings were unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh, and fell, 6-1.

Keller had two hits and one RBI, and Casjens added one hit and one run.  Loucas and Castruita each had one hit.  Freshman Pitcher Keira Carvalho went 2.1 innings in relief, giving up two hits with one strikeout.

The split moves Missouri Valley to 8-38 overall and 1-21 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton sits at 11-37 on the season and 4-18 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking softball team will close its season with a road Heart doubleheader in Peru, Neb., against Peru State (Neb.), Saturday at 2 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.