Baseball Sweeps Day One Doubleheader with MidAmerica Nazarene to Open Conference Play

Marshall, Mo., (March 13, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team hosted MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) to open play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a pair of games, Friday afternoon inside the Wood & Huston Field at Indian Foothills Park.  The Vikings earned a 7-6 comeback victory in game one, and followed with a 9-4 win in game two to sweep the doubleheader.

The opening game started with MidAmerica Nazarene going in front early in the top of the first, using five hits and a MVC error to produce four runs, 4-0.  Missouri Valley responded in the bottom half, as Sophomore Second Baseman Sota Suzuki (Aichi, Japan) singled, advanced to second as Junior Catcher Masayoshi Hattori (Tokyo, Japan) was hit by the pitch, and scored on an MNU error.  Then, Junior Pinch Runner Zachary Wilson (Copperscove, Texas) scored on a passed ball to cut the team's deficit down to 4-2.  The Vikings kept the Pioneers scoreless in the second inning, as Sophomore Pitcher Phillip Rushman (Lincoln, Neb.) struck out two batters and induced a fly-out.  Missouri Valley threatened in the bottom of the second, as Freshman Designated Hitter Charles Bedosky (Kansas City, Mo.) singled, Freshman First Baseman Dalton Fritsche (Perryville, Mo.) reached first on a fielder's choice, and Sophomore Shortstop Devin Norwood (Pearl, Miss.) walked, but runners were left stranded.  Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth inning, where Rushman struck out one batter, and MVC used a double-play started by Norwood to keep the scoreboard close, 4-2.  

MidAmerica Nazarene used two hits to score one run in the fifth inning, making it a 5-2 score.  After a scoreless inning for the Vikings, MNU added one more run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead, 6-2.  Missouri Valley answered back with a rally, as Hattori singled to open the bottom half of the inning, Senior RightFielder Colton Campbell (Aledo, Texas) followed with another single, and Senior Leftfielder Shumpei Kaneko (Saitama, Japan) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.  Freshman Centerfielder Aidan Bearden (Kansas City, Mo.) brought two runners home on a single.  Later in the at-bat, Freshman Third Baseman Brennan Nickerson (St. Louis, Mo.) walked, Kaneko scored as Bedosky reached on a fielder's choice, and with loaded-bases, Fritsche walked allowing a runner to reach safely.  Norwood capped the rally with a sac-fly to right field to bring home Junior Pinch Runner Josh Hudson (Kansas City, Mo.) and to move in top, 7-6.  Junior Pitcher Rowan Robinson (Calgary, Alberta) struck one batter and induced a fly-out to close out a 7-6 win. 

Leading the team was Bearden with one hit, one scored run, and two RBI's.  Suzuki and Campbell followed with one hit and one run each.  Both Norwood and Fritsche had one RBI each, while Wilson scored two runs.  The win went to Freshman Pitcher Colton Myers (Orangefield, Texas), who pitched 1.0 inning in relief, and Robinson picked up the save, striking out one batter.

Game two started with Freshman Pitcher Carson Rustemeyer (Jefferson City, Mo.) striking out two batters in the top of the first inning.  Rustemeyer took the Pioneers in order, ending the team's at-bat in the top of the second, and Missouri Valley used a solo homer from Bearden to go in front in the bottom half, 1-0.  MidAmerica Nazarene responded, using two hits and three MVC errors to produce three runs to move ahead, 3-1.  After a scoreless inning for the Vikings, MNU added one more run in the top of the fourth to make it a 4-1 score.  Missouri Valley was taken down in order in the bottom half of the fourth.  

Junior Pitcher Kaiden Kelly (Sparta, Mo.) induced two fly-outs and struck one batter to keep the Pioneers scoreless in the top of the fifth.  Missouri Valley put together a long rally in the bottom of the fifth, which started with a solo homer from Kaneko, both Nickerson and Freshman Catcher Gabe Duncan (St. Peter's, Mo.) singled, and MVC loaded the bases as Fritsche was hit.  Norwood followed with a two-RBI single, Suzuki was hit by the pitch, and Hattori brought home two runners on a single.  Later in the at-bat, the Vikings worked another bases-loaded as Campbell walked, and Suzuki scored as Kaneko was hit to take the lead, 6-4.  Missouri Valley kept MidAmerica Nazarene scoreless in the top of the sixth.  The Vikings extended their lead in the bottom half, featuring Duncan reaching first on a hit by the pitch, then both Fritsche and Norwood singled to load the bases with no outs.  Suzuki followed with another single to bring two runners home, making it a 9-4 score.  MidAmerica was unable to climb late in the game, and Robinson induced a pair of groundouts to secure the 9-4 win and doubleheader sweep.

Norwood led with two hits, one scored run, and two RBI's. Suzuki and Kaneko followed with one hit, one run, and two RBI's each, while Bearden had a solo homer.  Hattori finished with one hit and two RBI's.  The win went to Kelly, going 2.1 innings with three strikeouts.

Missouri Valley improves at 2-16 overall and 2-0 in the Heart, while MidAmerica Nazarene drops to 6-14 on the season and 0-2 in the conference.

Up next, the Vikings will finish its series against MidAmerica Nazarene with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 12 p.m., in the Wood & Huston Field at Indian Foothills Park.

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.