The Pioneers went to conference-leader Culver-Stockton and came away with a double header split on Thursday. In Game 1,
Keith Staton struggled out of the gate and allowed 2 first-inning runs, but righted the ship and dominated through the sixth. The Pioneers took the lead in the top of the third when
Kyle Segraves walked and
David Hamlett singed with one out.
Jarid Renzelman drove them both home with a double and later scored on a wild pitch to give MNU a 3-2 lead.
Tino Luna entered the game in the seventh to close it out and got the first two batters quickly. But Culver doubled and singled with two outs to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Tim Purdin led off the top of the eight with a double and was moved to third with a bunt.
Jordan Goliat broke the tie with a single to center, and Luna held Culver in the bottom of the inning to pick up the 4-3 victory.
David Hamlett (2-3, R, BB, SB) and
Jarid Renzelman (1-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) led the offense.
In Game 2, Culver took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Pioneers took the lead in the top of the second when they scored 2 runs on 3 hits.
Matt Netherton held the Wildcats at bay until the bottom of the fifth when Culver regained the lead with 2 runs on 2 hits and an error. Culver held the 3-2 lead and took Game 2 and salvaged the split.
Tim Purdin (1-3),
Ben Alison (2-3, R, SB),
AJ Nunley (1-3, R), Dave Staton (1-2, RBI), and
Kevin Liddle (1-3, RBI) had MNU's 6 hits.
The Pioneers are 13-8 (6-3 HAAC). The next game is a double header at Avila on Friday at 1:00.
