Jen Costa and
Lynsey Keith led the Pioneers to a double header sweep of Missouri Valley on Tuesday. In Game 1, the Pioneers scored in the first inning when Jen Costa knocked in
Emily True for a 1-0 lead. Costa proceded to hold the Vikings hitless until a 2-out single in the fifth broke up the no-hit bid. Costa homered (24) to lead off the sixth, and MNU scored 3 more in the seventh to win 5-0. Costa (12-3) struck out 11 and allowed just 2 hits in a complete game shutout, and
Emily True (2-4, 2 R), Jen Costa (2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB),
Taylor Ryal (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI), and
Lynsey Keith (2-2, 2 2B, BB) led the offense.
In Game 2, the Pioneers were held scoreless until the fourth, and the Vikings threatened to blow the game open in the second. A single and an error brought home a run with one out, and a single and a walk loaded the bases. Freshman
Kayla Harris escaped the jam when the Viking leadoff hitter lined into a double play, and MNU was spared a big inning. The Pioneers tied the game in the fourth when
Taylor Ryal singled and was sacrificed to second.
Lynsey Keith followed with an RBI single, and the game was tied at 1. MNU blew it open in the fifth with 4 runs on 4 hits, and iced the game with 5 more runs in the seventh for a 10-2 victory.
Kayla Harris (12-2) picked up her 12th victory of the season, and
Keeley Ray (2-5, R, RBI), Jen Costa (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI),
Taylor Ryal (2-3, RBI, BB), and
Lynsey Keith (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games.
The Pioneers are 33-10 (15-5 HAAC). The conference tournament starts on Friday and 2-seed MNU will host 7-seed Benedictine (19-16, 10-10) for a double header Friday night at 6:00. It is a best-of-three series with Game 3 on Saturday at 2:00 (if necessary).
Game 1:
Box and Play by Play
Game 2:
Box and Play by Play
