The Pioneers survived a late rally in Game 2 to salvage a double header split at Avila on Friday. In Game 1, the Pioneers committed 4 errors and managed just 3 singles as they were shut out for the first time all season. Avila scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, then blew it open with 4 in the fifth to win 6-0.
Ben Alison (1-3),
Jordan Goliat (1-2), and
Donnie MacLeod (1-1) collected MNU's 3 hits.
In Game 2, starter
Justin Huggins escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the first. A hit batsman and 2 singles loaded the bases, but Huggins got out of it with 2 strikeouts and a pop out. He carried that momentum and held Avila scoreless into the seventh. The Pioneers picked up a run in the top of the fourth when
AJ Nunley's 2-out double drove home
Ben Alison. A wild pitch in the fifth brought home
Kyle Segraves to put MNU up 2-0, and the score remained until the seventh. Avila started the inning with a hit batsman and a single when
Tino Luna entered the game. A perfectly-place bunt loaded the bases with no outs, and an error brought home a run and kept the bases loaded for the middle of the Eagle lineup. Luna managed to strike out the next batter, and a failed squeeze attempt erased the runner from third and recorded the second out. An easy ground ball to second ended the threat, and the Pioneers escaped with the 2-1 victory and the split. Huggins allowed 5 hits, 1 run (unearned), and struck out 6 in 6 innings for his first victory. Luna allowed a bunt single and struck out a batter for the save. And
Ben Alison (2-2, R) and
AJ Nunley (1-2, 2B, RBI, SAC) led the offense.
The Pioneers are 14-9 (7-4 HAAC). The next contest is a single 9-inning game at Friends University on Tuesday at 5:00.
Game 1 |
Box and Play by Play
Game 2 |
Box and Play by Play
