Baseball Falls on the Road to Ottawa

Ottawa, Kan., (March 3, 2025)-  The Missouri Valley College baseball team went to Ottawa, Kan., for a nine-inning non-conference game against Ottawa (Kan.), Monday afternoon.  The Vikings rallied from an early deficit, but fell by a final score of 7-4.

Ottawa took control of the game early, using four hits to produce four runs and go on top by a 4-0 score.  Missouri Valley threatened in the top of the first inning, as Senior Centerfielder Dale Bratz (Carstairs, Alberta) doubled, Senior Second Baseman Austyn Andrachick (Kalispell, Mont.) was hit by a pitch, and the pair moved into scoring position on a passed ball, all with two outs.  However the baserunners were left stranded to end the opportunity.  Freshman Pitcher JR Reed (Fort Worth, Texas) struck out one and kept OU scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, then worked around a walk in the bottom of the third to strikeout one more, and Freshman Pitcher Phillip Rushman (Lincoln, Neb.) finished a third-straight scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth, taking down the Braves in order.

Missouri Valley produced from the plate in the fifth inning, as Andrachick led off with a double, followed by a single from Freshman Catcher Jaozef Del Rosario (Toronto, Canada).  Junior Leftfielder Spencer Searcey (Denver, Colo.) loaded the bases, with no outs, on a walk, but Freshman Shortstop Rui Watanabe (Nagasaki, Japan) hit into a fielder's choice that forced the runner from third out at home.  With the bases still loaded, Junior Designated Hitter Tanner Duncan (Kennett, Mo.) was hit by a pitch, and Freshman Pinch Runner Isaac Nieters (Hughesville, Mo.) scored.  One batter later, Senior First Baseman Brandon Walker (Kansas City, Kan.) brought home Searcey on a sac-fly, and MVC trailed, 4-2.  Rushman got out of a jam in the bottom half of the fifth, earning a strikeout to end the at-bat, and leave two runners stranded.  The Vikings rallied again in the sixth, as Rosario drove home Andrachick on a single, then came home later in the at-bat on a double-steal attempt with Searcey to tie the contest at 4-4.

The bottom of the fifth featured OU going back in front, scoring one run to hold a 5-4 lead.  Missouri Valley put its first two batters on-base in the top of the seventh, as Duncan singled and Senior First Baseman Joe Hedger (Logan, Iowa) walked.  The two were moved into scoring position, but they were left stranded after a pair of strikeouts.  With the score still at 5-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, Ottawa added to their lead on a two-run homer. The Vikings were unable to work back into the game in the top of the ninth, and fell, 7-4.

Del Rosario led with two hits, one run and one RBI, while Bratz added two hits.  Andrachick and Searcey had one hit and one run apiece.  Reed pitched 2.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out two batters, while the loss went to Freshman Pitcher Jade Limbrock (Yorktown, Ind.), going one inning, giving up three hits and an unearned run.

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 5-6 on the season, while Ottawa improves to 17-3.

Up next, the Viking baseball team is scheduled to host Briar Cliff (Iowa) and St. Mary (Kan.) in doubleheaders this weekend.  Games are scheduled to start both Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m.

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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.