Batesville, Arkansas - The MNU Softball team came away from their opening day this season with a 1-1 record. The Pioneers beat Southern Nazarene University 4-3 and lost to Central Baptist College 0-5. Not only was this the first games of their young season, it was the first time the 2010 MNU squad was able to go outside. "We were so excited to play in dirt," sais MNU Head Coach Steve Babinski. "We expected to throw the ball around a bit because of the lack of time on a field, but overall we held it together pretty well."
Game 1 was a thriller. It started as a pitching duel as MNU senior
Penny Eastman and her counterpart each allowed only a single hit in the first four innings. SNU started the scoring in the bottom of the 5th inning as a couple of hits and a couple of errors resulted in a 3-0 lead. MNU answered in the top of the 6th inning as sophomore
Cait Gardner reached on an error and junior Stephanie Jones singled to continue a rally. Then junior
Brianna Payne's sacrifice bunt was thrown away scoring MNU's 1st run and moving two in scoring position.
Ashley Salter grounded out for the second out of the inning and scored MNU's second run. Junior
Jennifer Costa got her fist hit as a Pioneer by lacing a single to right field to tie the game. After a stolen base from Costa, junior
Taylor Ryal walked to bring up freshman
Leslie Jones with runners on first and second. Jones hit the second pitch up the middle get her first hit as a Pioneer and scored what would be the game winning run. Eastman held SNU hitless in the last 2 innings to close the door and seal MNU's 1st win. "This was a very good win," said Babinski. "We turned a corner to wake up our bats and thankfully it was enough. It was a great to see some girls come through and Penny led us the whole way." Eastman finished the complete game giving up 1 earned run on 5 hits, 4 walks, and 13 strikeouts and is now 1-0.
Game 2 the bats were silent. "Central Baptist has a very special pitcher in Bock," said Babinski about DI sophomore transfer Jessica Bock. "She was quick with outstanding movement spots. Her changeup never allowed us to settle into the box. This early in the season we were outmatched." Babinski's lineup could not figure Bock out and was unable to score a run. MNU mustered only 2 base runners and never came up with a clutch hit. Junior pitcher
Jennifer Costa (now 0-1) took the loss by giving up 5 runs of which only 2 were earned, on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts. "We need more outside field time, but we'll have to learn how to stop the bleeding by errors," says Babinski.
MNU will suit up again to finish day two in Batesville at the 2010 Lyon College Invitation. They play Kansas Wesleyan at 10am and host school Lyon College at noon.
