The Culver-Stockton baseball team scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a 6-4 deficit and defeat Missouri Valley College 10-6 in the first game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at Nichols Field.

In the second game, the Wildcats were limited to two hits by Vikings starter Tanner Duncan in a 6-0 Missouri Valley victory.

In the the opener, C-SC trailed 1-0 after the Vikings scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. However, the Wildcats responded with four hits and a walk to plate four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Kannon Kirk was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring the tying run on a RBI double from Jaison Andujar. Tristan Meny followed with a walk and Jordan Scott followed with a RBI single to left field that scored Andujar. Both Meny and Scott moved up a base to put runners at second and third.

Bryan Barreto drove home Meny with a groundout to second for the third run of the inning, and Jeremiah Morris concluded the scoring with a RBI single to right to plate Scott for a 4-1 C-SC lead after one inning.

However, the the Vikings took advantage of some wildness from Wildcat starter Davin Meier to to score three runs on three hits and two walks. The Vikings then plated single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, C-SC regained the lead with a two-out rally. 

Kirk started the rally a single sandwiched around outs by Noble Oxford and Andujar. Meny singled to left to put the runners at the corners before Scott was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Barreto then drilled a double down the left field line for a three-run double to score all three runners and give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

C-SC added three insurance runs in sixth inning when Ryan Osso singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wyattt Wright. However, wright reached on a throwing error by the pitcher to put runners at first and second.

Oxford then laid down an excellent bunt for and the Viking pitcher threw wild to third sending the ball down the left field line, allowing Osso to score. Wright was also waved home and he scored as the left fielder's throw was up the first base line and wild. That allowed Oxford to circle the bases for three more runs.

Gavin Reames earned the victory in relief of Meier, going three solid innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Jarod Marty hurled two scoreless innings to end the game, allowing no hits with one walk and two strikeouts for his second save.

C-SC collected 12 hits in the game with Oxford leading the way with three hits on four at-bats. Osso collected two hits while Barreto finished with four runs batted in.

Game two was a different story as Duncan limited just one hit, a leadoff triple by Kirk in the fourth inning, over the first six innings. Osso has the Wildcats' other hit, a single to start off the seventh inning.

The Vikings scored a run in the first and held on to that lead until the sixth when they plated four runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. MVC added one more run in the seventh to account for the final score.

The Vikings and Wildcats are scheduled to finish its four-game series on Saturday, April 19, with another doubleheader at Nichols Field. The first game is slated to begin at 12 p.m. In addition, C-SC is set to celebrate senior day as 21 seniors are slated to play their final games at Nichols Field.