Baseball Drops Road Doubleheader at MidAmerica Nazarene

Olathe, Kan., (March 28, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team traveled to Olathe, Kan., to open a Heart of America Athletic Conference series against MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) with a Friday afternoon doubleheader.  The Vikings dropped game one, and then fell in a high-scoring second game.

Game one started with MidAmerica Nazarene going in front early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  After a scoreless second inning, Missouri Valley answered back with a rally in the top of the third.  Freshman Shortstop Sota Suzuki (Aichi, Japan) led off by reaching safely on an error, followed by a single from Senior First Baseman Joe Hedger (Logan, Iowa).  Later in the at-bat, Junior Centerfileder Mason Mitchell (Littleton, Colo.) singled to score both runners, and tie the game.  Junior Rightfielder Pablo Arnaud (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) kept the at-bat going with another two-run double, this time scoring Mitchell and Junior Leftfielder Carter Kalin (Superior, Wisc.), to send MVC in front, 4-2.  The Pioneers responded with production from the plate in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs on four hits and one error.  Sophomore Pitcher Trey Brakensiek (Wright City, Mo.) got out of the inning with a strikeout to strand three MNU runners on-base.  Senior Second Baseman Jayden Mah (Nanaimo, British Columbia) got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth, knocking out a solo homer to cut the deficit down to 6-5.

MidAmerica Nazarene began to pull away from there, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, then adding another two runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Suzuki drove home Senior Third Baseman Connor Bell (San Diego, Calif.) with a grounder in the top of the sixth, but the Vikings trailed, 10-6.  The Pioneers added to their advantage in the bottom half of the inning, bringing home seven total runs.  Missouri Valley was held scoreless in the seventh, and fell, 17-6.

Junior Designated Hitter Tanner Duncan (Kennett, Mo.) had two hits, while Mitchell totaled one hit, one run and two RBIs.  Arnaud had one hit and two RBIs, while Mah finished with one hit, one run and one RBI. 

After a scoreless first inning to open game two, MidAmerica put together a long rally in the second inning, scoring seven runs on four hits and one MVC error to build a 7-0 lead.  Missouri Valley answered back, as Senior First Baseman Brandon Walker (Kansas City, Kan.) singled to open the at-bat, then Sophomore Catcher Masayoshi Hattori (Tokyo, Japan) and Junior Centerfielder Mason Mitchell (Littleton, Colo.) both singled loading the bases, and Duncan brought home Walker on a single.  Junior Pinch Runner Jacob Spear (Oakwood, Ill.) who came in to pinch run for Hattori, scored on a wild pitch, and Mitchell also scored on a wild pitch.  Later in the inning, Junior Rightfielder Pablo Arnaud (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) drove home a runner with a single to make it a 7-4 score.  After a scoreless inning for the Pioneers, Missouri Valley tied the game in the top of the fourth, as Freshman Leftfielder Isaac Nieters (Hughesville, Mo.) started the inning with a double, then two MNU errors brought two runners home, and a single from Duncan allowed Mitchell to reach home safely, 7-7.  MidAmerica Nazarene responded, using four hits to produce four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning and hold an 11-7 advantage. 

Missouri Valley was taken down in order in the top of the fifth inning.  MNU produced four runs on three hits and two MVC errors to extend their lead in the bottom half, 15-7.  The Vikings got four runs back in the sixth, as Nieters led off with a single and then scored on a double to left field from Walker.  Mitchell followed with a single, and Duncan came up and hit a double to bring two runners home.  Later in the at-bat, a single from Arnaud allowed Duncan to score and cut the team's deficit to 15-11.  The Pioneers came back with a long rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, using four hits to produce seven runs and increase their lead, 22-11.  The top of the seventh featured more production from the Vikings, as Nieters singled and Walker belted a two-run homer.  Hattori followed with a double to center field, and Duncan then knocked out a two-run homer, but the Vikings were unable to comeback, and the team fell, 22-15.

Duncan finished with four hits, three runs and six RBIs.  Walker followed with three hits, three scored runs and three RBIs, while Nieters had three hits and three runs.  Mitchell totaled two hits and three scored runs, and Arnaud added two hits and two RBIs.  Caleb Monnig picked up the loss, going 2.1 innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs with one strikeout.

The pair of losses drop Missouri Valley to 10-17 overall and 5-9 in the Heart. MidAmerica Nazarene improves to 18-8 on the season and 11-3 in the conference.

Up next, the two teams will continue their Heart series with a doubleheader in Olathe, Kan., Saturday, beginning at 12 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.