Baseball Splits Saturday Home Doubleheader With Graceland

Marshall, Mo., (April 27, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team hosted Graceland (Iowa) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Mo.  The Vikings used a pair of home runs to win the opener, 4-2, but had a late rally fall short, falling 12-9 in the second game.

The first game started with Graceland putting its leadoff batter on-base, but Senior Pitcher Dieterich Guertzgen (De Soto, Mo.) worked around the runner and got out of the inning without surrendering a run.  Missouri Valley went in front in its first at-bat, as Senior Shortstop Josias Mogollon (Bloomfield, Iowa) knocked a two-out, solo homer to make it a 1-0 score.  The Yellowjackets were taken down in order in the second inning, then had their only baserunner in the third picked off by Guertzgen to help keep MVC in front.  The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the third, as Senior Centerfielder Ivory Daniels (Little Rock, Ark.) was hit and Junior Third Baseman Connor Bell (San Diego, Calif.) singled with two outs.  However, the two were left stranded to end the inning.  Graceland was taken down in order in the fourth, but threatened in the top of the fifth with a leadoff single.  After the runner reached second base on a steal, Guertzgen came back with two-straight strikeouts to help end the at-bat for the Yellowjackets.

The bottom of the fifth featured two-out production from the MVC lineup.  Junior Designated Hitter Joe Hedger (Logan, Iowa) singled, and Daniels followed with a two-run homer to stretch the lead out to 3-0.  Graceland got two of those runs back in the top of the sixth, on a two-out double to cut the team's deficit to 3-2.  The bottom of the sixth started on a solo home run from Junior First Baseman Luke Stoner (Rockford, Ill.) to push the advantage out to 4-2 going into the final inning.  A walk was earned in the at-bat for GU, allowing the tying run to bat with two outs, but Guertzgen finished his complete-game with a strikeout as the Vikings won, 4-2.

Daniels had two hits, one run scored and two RBI's, while both Mogollon and Stoner knocked out solo homers.  Guertzgen finished his fourth complete-game of the season, giving up four hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts.

Graceland went in front early in the second game, using two hits and a stolen base to produce one run.  Missouri Valley responded with a rally in the bottom half of the inning, which started on a Daniels walk.  Mogollon doubled to bring the runner home, and later in the at-bat, a bases-loaded sac-fly from Senior Catcher Josh Turner (Pensacola, Fla.) allowed Mogollon to reach home safely and put MVC in front, 2-1.  The Yellowjackets reclaimed the lead in the second inning, on a three-run homer.  The Vikings followed with production from the plate in the bottom half, as Hedger drew a walk and Daniels was hit.  The pair were moved into scoring position, then came home on a double from Mogollon to tie the teams at 4-4.  The top of the third featured more runs for GU, using two hits and one error to score three and put the team ahead, 7-4.  Graceland increased its advantage in the fourth, scoring another four runs to sit on top, 11-4. 

Both teams struggled from the plate through the bottom of the sixth.  Senior Pitcher Micah Copeland (Buckner, Mo.) worked around a leadoff double in the fifth, to strikeout one batter and strand the runner.  In the sixth, Copeland struck out the side to face the minimum.  The Vikings opened the bottom of the sixth with a double from Daniels, who came home on another double from Mogollon.  With two outs, Mogollon scored on a wild pitch, and the deficit sat at 11-6 going into the seventh inning.  The Yellowjackets added to their lead in the top of the seventh, scoring one run, but Copeland worked back to strikeout two batters to send the game into the bottom of the seventh.  With one out, singles came from Senior Second Baseman Nick Tsoulfanidis (Wentzville, Mo.) and Freshman Pinch Hitter Marlon Bravo, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), followed by Daniels clearing the bases on a three-run homer.  Mogollon added his fourth hit of the day later in the at-bat, and Stoner reached on a single to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs.  However, the Vikings were unable to finish the rally, and fell by a 12-9 score.

Mogollon finished with four hits, three doubles, to go with two runs scored and four RBI's.  Daniels had two hits, four runs scored and three RBI's, while Tsoulfanidis had two hits and one run scored.  The Vikings totaled 12 hits and eight walks.  Copeland pitched the final 3.2 innings in relief, giving up two hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts.

Missouri Valley moves to 16-31 overall and 4-26 in the Heart.  Graceland sits at 23-25 on the season and 11-19 in the conference.

The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader, Monday at 1 p.m., at Indian Foothills Park to complete their four-game series.

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.