Jennifer Costa and
Penny Eastman each threw a complete-game one-hitter in a sweep of HAAC leader Central Methodist on Saturday. In game one, MNU jumped on top when
Brianna Payne singled, stole second, and scored on an
Ashley Salter single.
Ashley Mayhle's third home run of the season made have MNU a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Costa was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth to make the score 3-0, and an Eagle infield hit in the bottom of the 6th broke up Costa's bid for her second consecutive no-hitter. She allowed no runs on 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 13 in 7 innings.
Brianna Payne (1-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SB),
Ashley Mayhle (1-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, SB), and Stephanie Jones (2-2, 2B, BB) led the offense.
In game two,
Jessica Campbell's first home run of the season got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. The Pioneers added two more in the fourth when Cambell doubled home Stephanie Jones, who had walked. Campbell scored on a Caitlin Thomas single and MNU took a 3-0 lead. The Pioneers added single runs in the fifth and seventh to take a 5-0 lead, and
Penny Eastman took a no-hitter to the bottom of the final inning. After a leadoff walk, Eastman struck out the next two batters. But a 2-out double broke up the no-hitter and the shutout. Eastman struckout the final hitter and won 5-1. Eastman struck out 12 in seven innings, and
Emily True (3-4, 2 R, HR, RBI),
Jennifer Costa (3-3, 2 2B, RBI), and
Jessica Campbell (2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games for the Pioneers.
MNU is 31-5 (11-3 HAAC). The next double header is Wednesday the 14th vs. Avila (4-15, 0-8) at 3:00 PM.
