Baseball Starts Season With Doubleheader at Ottawa

Ottawa, Kan., (Feb. 7, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team opened its 2026 season with a non-conference doubleheader in Ottawa, Kan., against Ottawa (Kan.), Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings dropped both games of the doubleheader.

The opening game of the series began with Missouri Valley threatening in the top of the first inning.  Senior Leftfielder Shumpei Kaneko (Saitama, Japan) reached on a walk, and Freshman Second Baseman Devin Norwood (Pearl, Miss.) was hit to put two runners on-base with no outs.  However, a double-play ended an early chance for the Vikings, leaving one runner stranded.  Ottawa followed with production from the plate in the bottom half of the inning, using two hits and one MVC error to produce two runs.  Junior Third Baseman Tyler Witt (O'Fallon, Mo.) started a double-play to finish out the inning, and keep the Vikings at a 2-0 deficit.  Missouri Valley again put two runners on-base in the top of the second inning, as Freshman Aidan Bearden (Kansas City, Mo.) reached on a walk, and Witt singled, all with one out.  The next two batters struck out for MVC, as the two runners were left on-base.  The Braves followed with another pair of runs in the bottom half of the second, extending the team's advantage to 4-0.

Ottawa added to its lead in the bottom of the third, bringing home another three runs.  Junior Pitcher Alex Alton (Jacksonville, Mo.) came back to take down OU in order in the fourth, then worked around a two-out single by ending the at-bat with a strikeout.  Missouri Valley was unable to work down its deficit late in the game, and the Braves added another four runs in the bottom of the sixth.  The Vikings fell in the first game of the day by a final score of 11-0.

Kaneko had one hit and walked once.  Junior First Baseman Masayoshi Hattori (Tokyo, Japan) and Witt each added one hit. Alton pitched three innings in relief and gave up one hit with three earned runs and one strikeout.

The second game started with a long rally from the Braves, using four hits to produce seven runs, and move on ahead in the bottom of the first.  After a scoreless second and third inning for the Vikings, Ottawa continued to increase their lead, as they scored two runs in the second, and three more runs in the bottom half of the third inning.  Both teams were taken down in order in the fourth, and the fifth inning began with Sophomore Rightfielder Kevon Marshall (Chicago, Ill.) being hit by the pitch, followed by a double to left field from Junior Catcher Josh Hudson (Kansas City, Mo.), and a single from Freshman Second Baseman Juan Amezquita (Guatemala) brought both runners home to make it 12-2.  The Braves scored two more runs on two hits and one MVC error in the bottom half.  Missouri Valley added a run in the top of the sixth inning, as Senior Leftfielder Filippo Bianchi (Piacenza, Italy) and Freshman Stephen Shearer (Kansas City, Mo.) both singled, Marshall was hit by the pitch, and Shearer scored on a single from Witt, 14-3.  The Vikings were unable to put anyone on-base in the top of the seventh, and fell by a final score of 14-3.

Amezquita had two hits and two RBIs, while Witt added one hit and one RBI.  Both Shearer and Hudson finished with one hit and one run, and Marshall scored one run.  Sophomore Pitcher Gavin Locke (Concordia, Mo.) picked up the loss, giving up five hits and nine earned runs.

Missouri Valley drops to 0-2 on the season while Ottawa improves to 5-1.

Up next, the Vikings will finish its weekend series against Ottawa with a Sunday doubleheader, beginning at 12 p.m., in Ottawa, Kan.

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.