Olathe, KS - The Pioneers looked like a national powerhouse as they traveled to Liberty, MO for a double header against conference foe William Jewel. The Pioneers won the first game 7-1 with a complete game by Junior Jennifer Costa. Game 2 only lasted 5 innings as the bats exploded with 11 runs in a 11-0 victory. Senior Penny Eastman took the 5 inning win.
Game 1 - Jewell jumped on the board first with a run in the bottom of the 1st inning. The 1-0 score stood until the 4th inning MNU collected 5 consecutive singles while scoring 3 runs. In the 5th inning junior Taylor Ryal smashed her 5th homerun of the season with a 2-run moon shot over the left field fence. Jennifer Costa added some insurance with a 2-out 2-run missile that barely flew high enough to clear the left field 8-foot fence. Costa's homerun is her HAAC conference leading 12th of the season. Seven runs was more then enough for MNU as Costa (10-2) threw a 7-inning complete game surrendering 1 run on 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 12. Leading he offense was Costa 2-4, HR, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs; Ryal 2-4, HR, Runs, 2 RBI; and 4 Pioneers added a hit.
Game 2 - The batted exploded in the second game with 16 hits in 5 innings. MNU got 3 in the first and never looked back. They tacked on 3 more in the 3rd and 5 in the 5th to run away with the 11-0 win. Senior pitcher Peny Eastman (9-3) welcomed the scoring but only needed 1 as she threw a 1 hit, 2 walk, 5 inning complete game shout out. Eastman struck out 10 in the 5-inning performance. Leading the offense was Costa 4-4, 2 2B, 3 Runs, RBI; Ryal 3-4, 3 RBI; Stephanie Jones 3-3, Run, RBI, SB; and Ashley Mayhle 2-3, HBP, Run, RBI.
The Pioneers now move to 22-5 and are 5-3 in the HAAC. "Today I saw the team I recruited," says Coach Babinski. "It was a lot of fun to compete on every pitch and win some ball games with great pitching, defense, and hitting." Babinski and the Pioneers will travel thursday to Leavenworth to battle the Spires of The University of Saint Mary in a non-conference double header starting at 3:00pm.
