Baseball Drops Final Doubleheader of Series at Baker

Baldwin City, Kan., (March 3, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team finished a weekend series at Baker (Kan.) with a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon in Baldwin City, Kan.  The Vikings fell in both games of the doubleheader.

Missouri Valley was unable to produce a go-ahead run in the top of the first inning, which included a single from Senior Shortstop Josias Mogollon (Bloomfield, Iowa) and walk from Junior Leftfielder Hiroto Kobayashi (Saitama, Japan).  Baker followed with a long at-bat in the bottom half of the inning, using six hits and one walk to bring home five runners and hold a 5-0 advantage.  The Vikings got one of those runs back in the second inning, which started on a leadoff walk from Junior First Baseman Joe Hedger (Logan, Iowa).  With two outs, Hedger came home on a double from Junior Catcher Connor Bell (San Diego, Calif.).  Freshman Pitcher Mason Baer (Roselle, Ill.) got out of a jam in the bottom of the second, as BU loaded the bases with one single, a hit-by-pitch and a walk.  However, a fielder's choice grounder to Senior Third Baseman Nick Tsoulfanidis  (Wentzville, Mo.) who got the runner out at third before crossing home to end the at-bat.  Mogollon worked a two-out triple in the top of the third, then came home on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2.  

The Wildcats were held scoreless in the bottom of the third, then again in the fourth by Baer.  The top of the fifth featured a double from Freshman Second Baseman Roel Colchado (San Antonio, Texas) and a walk from Senior Centerfielder Ivory Daniels (Little Rock, Ark.).  Mogollon walked in the inning to lead the bases, but all three were left stranded.  The 5-2 score was maintained until the bottom of the sixth when BU produced two hits, one error and one walk to score two runs and make it a 7-2 advantage.  Missouri Valley was unable to put anyone on-base in the seventh inning, and fell, 7-2.

Mogollon led with two hits and one run.  Bell added one hit.  Baer picked up the loss, going four innings with five earned runs and one strikeout.

The second game started with a leadoff single from Daniels, who stole second, but was eventually stranded at third to end the at-bat.  The Wildcats followed with five runs on three hits and two walks in the bottom of the first inning.  Baker added another three runs in the second inning, then three more runs in the third inning.  Missouri Valley produced one run in the top of the fifth, as a Daniels single brought home Baer.  The Vikings were unable to pull their deficit down through the rest of the game, and fell, 11-1.

Daniels totaled two hits and one RBi, while Baer had two hits and one run scored.

The pair of losses puts Missouri Valley at 5-7 overall and 0-4 in the Heart.  Baker improves to 6-12 on the season and 4-0 in the conference.

Up next, the Vikings will play their first home game of the season, hosting Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) in a non-conference, 9-inning game, Wednesday at 5 p.m., at Indian Foothills Park.

Game 1 Box Score-Click Here

Game 2 Box Score-Click Here

ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.