Baseball Drops Pair of Games at MidAmerica Nazarene to Close Series

Olathe, Kan., (March 29, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team finished a road Heart of America Athletic Conference series at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in Olathe, Kan., Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings fell in the opening game, 15-9, then lost in extra-innings in game two, 8-7.

MidAmerica Nazarene went in front early in the opening game, scoring five runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning, then added another run in the bottom of the second.  Missouri Valley produced from the plate in the top of the third, as Freshman Catcher Jaozef Del Rosario (Toronto, Ontario) drove home Senior First Baseman Brandon Walker (Kansas City, Kan.) on a Pioneer error, and Junior Designated Hitter Tanner Duncan (Kennett, Mo.) knocked out a two-run homer to cut the deficit down to 6-3.  Freshman Pitcher Jade Limbrock (Yorktown, Ind.) worked around a pair of singles in the bottom of the third, striking out one and stranding two runners on-base.  The Vikings rallied in the top of the fourth, as Freshman Leftfielder Isaac Nieters (Hughesville, Mo.) led off with a solo homer.  Later in the at-bat, Junior Centerfielder Mason Mitchell (Littleton, Colo.) singled to bring home Senior Third Baseman Connor Bell (San Diego, Calif.), followed by Duncan reaching safely on an error that allowed Walker to score.  The final run was scored on a Freshman Shortstop Sota Suzuki (Aichi, Japan) sacrifice fly, which brought home Junior Pinch Runner Jacob Spear (Oakwood, Ill.), and MVC moved in front, 7-6.  The advantage was short-lived for the Vikings, as MNU brought home two runs in the bottom of the inning, and went back on top, 8-7.  Missouri Valley trailed by a 9-7 score going into the top of the sixth, but used a two-run single from Suzuki, driving in Mitchell and Senior Pinch Hitter Austyn Andrachick (Kalispell, Mont.), to tie the teams at 9-9.  MidAmerica Nazarene responded with a long at-bat in the bottom of the sixth, using five hits and one MVC error to produce six runs and reclaim the lead.  The Vikings were unable to put anyone on-base in the top of the seventh inning to suffer a 15-9 defeat.

Suzuki had two hits and three RBIs, while Mitchell totaled two hits, one run and one RBI.  Duncan had one hit, one run and three RBIs, and Nieters had one hit, one run and one RBI.  Both Andrachick and Bell had one hit and one run.

Missouri Valley produced from the plate to open the second game, as Mitchell started the first inning off with a single, and eventually came home on a base-hit from Suzuki to go in front, 1-0.  Duncan took the mound as the starting pitcher, and used a double-play, started by Suzuki at shortstop, to face the minimum in the bottom half of the first.  After the Vikings were taken down in order in the top of the second, MNU went on top with a two-run homer in the bottom half.  The Pioneers added another three runs in the bottom of the third to hold a 5-1 lead.  The Vikings responded with a long rally in the top of the fourth, as Nieters singled and Andrachick reached safely on an error.  Bell brought home Nieters on a single, and Senior First Baseman Joe Hedger (Logan, Iowa) cleared the bases with a three-run home run to tie the game.  The inning continued with a Rosario walk, and a Duncan triple brought the runner home to send MVC ahead, 6-5.  The Pioneers followed with more production in the bottom half of the inning, using one hit and two walks to score two runs and take a 7-6 advantage.  Missouri Valley put together a two-out rally in the top of the fifth, as Andrachick doubled, and came home on a Bell single to tie the teams at 7-7.  Duncan worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth, using a double-play started by Bell at third base to keep the score tied.  Duncan then faced the minimum in the sixth and seventh innings, and the teams went into the eighth inning deadlocked at 7-7.  The Vikings were unable to put a runner on-base in their extra at-bat, but the first MNU batter in the bottom of the eighth ended the contest with a solo homer, as Missouri Valley fell, 8-7.

Hedger finished with two hits, one run and three RBIs, and Bell had two hits, one run and two RBIs.  Mitchell finished with two hits and one run, and Andrachick added one hit and two runs scored.  Duncan had one hit from the plate, and pitched into the eighth inning, giving up 10 hits with eight earned runs on the mound.

Missouri Valley drops to 10-19 overall 5-11 in the Heart.  MidAmerica Nazarene improves to 20-8 on the season and 13-3 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking baseball team will host Park (Mo.) in a Heart series, April 5-6, at Indian Foothills Park.  Doubleheaders will be played both days, starting 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.