Softball Hosts No. 8 Missouri Baptist in Final Home Doubleheader

Marshall, Mo., (April 24, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College softball hosted No. 8 Missouri Baptist in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Cargill Field at Indian Foothills Park for the final home games of the season.

The first game opened with Missouri Baptist going in front in the top of the first inning, using a two-run home run.  Junior Pitcher Aaralynn Ranck (Marissa, Ill.) got out of a jam later in the inning, to strand two runners on-base and keep the deficit at 2-0.  Missouri Valley got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Sophomore Third Baseman Keira Carvalho (Vista, Calif.) singled with one out, but was left stranded to end the at-bat.  The Spartans added to their lead in the top of the third, using four hits to score three runs, then brought home another two runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 7-0 game.  The bottom half of the fourth opened with a walk from Junior Catcher Camryn Dilla (West Des Moines, Iowa), followed by back-to-back one-out singles from Carvalho and Senior Leftfielder Taya Brickner (Fort Collins, Colo.) to load the bases.  However, a force out at home and a strikeout ended the rally attempt, as three runners were left stranded.  Sophomore Pitcher Gabrilla Branson (Petersburg, Ill.) kept MBU scoreless in the top of the fifth inning, stranding two runners, then used a double-play started by Senior Shortstop Aniah Castruita (South El Monte, Calif.) to keep Missouri Baptist scoreless in the sixth.  Brickner singled in the sixth, then Freshman Pinch Hitter Alex Whaley (Greenville, Fla.) reached with single in the seventh, but Missouri Valley was unable to cut into its deficit and fell, 8-0.

Brickner and Carvalho both had two hits, while Whaley and Castruita each added one hit.  

Game two opened with Junior Pitcher Chloe Shuff (Cypress, Calif.) working around a leadoff single in the top of the first inning to strand a runner on-base and keep the game scoreless. Missouri Baptist produced in the top of the second inning, using four hits to score two runs and take a 2-0 lead.  The Spartans then tacked on another run in the third, but Shuff worked back to keep MBU scoreless in the top of the fourth.  Missouri Valley got its first hit in the bottom of the fourth, as Freshman First Baseman Gabriella White (Pittsburg, Kan.) singled, but was left stranded to end the at-bat.  Missouri Baptist pulled away late in the game, scoring two runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth, followed by three runs in the seventh to close out a 9-0 final score.

Missouri Valley moves to 7-37 overall and 4-22 in the Heart.  Missouri Baptist improves to 37-8 on the season and 23-3 in the conference.  

Up next is the final doubleheader of the season, as the Vikings go to Parkville, Mo., to play Park (Mo.).  First game at 1 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.