SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri Valley College softball team dropped two games Friday at the Heart of America Conference Tournament in Springfield, ending its season.

The Lady Vikings gave regular season champion Central Methodist a battle in the opener, a 3-1 loss. Junior Kimberly Fuller's single drove in a run in the top of the first inning, but Valley was unable to extend or hold on to the lead.

While sophomore Chelsea Fuemmeler -- a former Salisbury all-stater -- tossed six shutout innings while completing a four-hitter, the Lady Eagles went on top in the third on senior Katie Dove's two-run single. Junior Jessica Taylor singled in an insurance run in the fourth.

Central Methodist (28-12) went on to win the next three games, all by two-run margins, to claim the title.

The Lady Vikings went ahead in their loser's bracket game against Culver-Stockton when sophomore Sara Irminger homered with a runner on base in the second inning. However, junior Carley Thurston responded with a pair of three-run shots for a 10-2 win by the Lady Wildcats (22-23), who were eliminated in the next round by Evangel, 5-3.

Valley (16-27) saw a reversal of last year's 25-18 campaign, in which it reached the NAIA Region V Tournament, as it retooled with a new pitching staff and replaced six starting position players with underclassmen.