Olathe, KS - Lone Elm Softball Complex in Olathe has been sweet home away from home for the MNU Pioneer Softball Team. The Pioneers home field isn't ready yet from the extremely long winter and the city of Olathe has opened their arms to allow MNU to play on some of the best “bad weather” fields in the Midwest. Coach Babinski might never want to play at his own field again as the Pioneers picked up two more wins today and improve to 12-1 on the season and 6-0 at Lone Elm Complex. In Game 1 Jennifer Costa gets the complete game win as the MNU Pioneers defeat Grandview College 6-2. In Game 2 Penny Eastman grabs the win as MNU bested Midland Lutheran College 4-2.
Game 1 - Grand View struck first in the top of the 3rd on an unearned run to go up 1-0. MNU tied it up as Ashley Mayhle (2) led off the inning with a first pitch solo homer to tie the score. MNU added 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th when Leslie Jones doubled in Costa and McCoy to make it 3-1. In the 5th Brianna Payne tripled and score on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Grand View cut the lead by 1 in the 6th to make it 4-2. The Pioneers added some insurance in the 6th when Leslie Jones scored on Ashley Mayhle's single and Mayhle later scored on Kim Russell's single making the score 6-2. That score would hold to allow the MNU Pioneers to win their 10th in a row. Costa threw the complete game surrendering 1 earned run on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8. Leading the offense was Ashley Mayhle 2-3 HR, 2 Runs, 1 RBI; Brianna Payne, Taylor Ryal, Leslie Jones, and Kim Russell added a hit in the win.
Game 2 - Midland Lutheran got on the board first in the 3rd when they scored their 2 leadoff walks with a 2-out, 2-strike single making it 2-0 MLC. MNU answered back with 1 run as Leslie Jones singled with 2 outs and stole second. Brianna Payne scored Jones on a hit of her own making it 2-1. In the 4th MNU tied it with a solo shot by Jennifer Costa (6). Scoring would halt until the Pioneers came up to bat in the bottom of the 6th. Jennifer Costa (7) followed Ashley Salter's hit with a 2-run homer putting MNU up 4-2. Penny Eastman shut down MLC in the 7th to win her 6th game of the year. Eastman (6-0) threw the complete game while giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 10. Leading the offense was Costa 2-3, 2 HR, 2 Runs, 3 RBI; Brianna Payne 2-3, RBI, Taylor Ryal 2-3, and Stephanie Jones 2-2, 2B, Run.
“We competed today,” says MNU Head Coach Steve Babinski, “Both of our starting pitchers learned how to win without their 'A' stuff. Defense was steady only giving up a single error and we got our timely hits. I am very happy on the day and extremely pleased on the week!” MNU went 6-0 in the week outscoring their opponents 37-8. In the 6 game span MNU's defense only committed 2 errors and their bats struck 11 homers.
MNU improves to 12-1 and played next Tuesday in Lawrence, KS against Haskell Indian Nations University. Then they leave for their Spring break and play in the Tucson Invitational Games in sunny Tucson, AZ.
