The Pioneers got 3 runs on 7 hits on Thursday, but 4 errors led to 3 unearned runs and a 4-3 extra-inning loss to Friends at the National Tournament. In the top of the first inning, pitcher Jen Costa retired the first two hitters easily, but the next hitter reached on an error and was moved to second on a walk. The next hitter followed with a single to right-center, scoring both runners and putting the Pioneers in a 2-0 hole. Costa answered back in the bottom of the inning, when the only hitable pitch she saw all day cleared the center field fence for her nation-leading 28th homer to halve the lead. Costa saw 12 more pitches the rest of the game and all of them were 2 feet outside. MNU tied the game in the third on a
Taylor Ryal sacrifice fly, but Friends came right back when a lead-off walk was bunted to second and scored on a single. The Pioneers tied it again in the bottom of the fourth when
Chelsea Bapst drove in a run with a 1-out single, and the score remained 3-3 until the 8th. Back to back singles and an error loaded the bases with no outs for Friends, but pitcher
Jessica Hull induced a 5-2-3 double play to put the Pioneers in position to get out of the jam. The next batter reached on another error, however, and MNU trailed 4-3. In the bottom of the inning,
Annie Duffner led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second. She attemped to take third on a great dirt-ball read and beat the throw, but the umpire ruled that she over slid the bag and called her out. Two pitches later a flyout ended the game and moved MNU to 0-1 in pool play.
Tianna George (2-4), Jen Costa (1-1, R, HR, RBI, 3 BB),
Taylor Ryal (1-3, RBI, SF), and
Chelsea Bapst (2-3, RBI) led the offense.
The Pioneers are 38-11. The next game is Friday at 3:30 vs. SUNY-Canton (18-14).
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