Game 1 Box |
Game 2 Box Ben Alison's 3-homer day highlighted an offensive explosion in MNU's double header sweep at Ottawa on Tuesday. In the first game, MNU scored a run in the third on a
Colin Starr 2-out RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers extended the lead in the 4th when
Ben Alison led off with a solo shot to center to ignite a 3-run inning. The Braves fought back with 4 runs in the 4th, however, and the scored was tied until MNU blew up in the 5th. After Tim Barraza led off with a single, Alison nailed his second homer of the day out of the yard to put MNU up by 2. The inning was far from over as MNU kept going with 2 singles, an error, a hit batsman, a walk, an RBI groundout, and another hit batsman to set up Alison with the bases loaded and one out. The senior hit a grand slam for his 3rd homer of the game and the 2nd of the inning to blow the game open. Two more runs crossed before the 12-run inning finally ended and the Pioneers were up 16-4.
Kevin Liddle's 3-run triple in the next frame highlighted a 4-run inning and the first 20-run game in at least 6 years. The 12-run inning was the first since MNU put up 12 in the top of the first in an 18-17 loss at Graceland last year. The Pioneers put up 1 more run in the 7th to complete the 21-8 final score.
Kyle Olson threw a complete game with 2 strikeouts for the victory. And
Derek Glenn (1-5, 3 RBI, HBP),
Colin Starr (2-4, 2B, RBI, HBP), Tim Barraza (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 HBP),
Ben Alison (4-5, 4 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI),
Josh Greer (1-3, 3 R, 2 BB),
Kevin Liddle (3-3, 2 R, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 HBP), and
Dillon Moeller (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB) had big games at the plate.
In Game 2, the Pioneers jumped out early with a 6-run first inning. After a walk, single, and 2 more walks, the Pioneers led 1-0 and had the bases loaded with no outs.
Josh Greer's 2-run single put the Pioneers up by 3, and MNU added 3 more for the 6-run advantage. They kept extending the lead with multi-run innings in all but the 4th and 7th in a 16-4 victory.
Zach Hess hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd, and
Colin Starr added his own 2-run shot in the 3rd to give MNU a 10-0 lead. Three runs in both the 5th and 6th innings gave the Pioneers the 16-4 victory.
Matt Netherton struck out 6 in 5+ innings for the victory. And
Derek Glenn (2-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, HBP, SB),
Colin Starr (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI),
Ben Alison (2-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB),
Josh Greer (2-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, Sac),
Zach Hess (2-4, 3 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB), and
Kevin Liddle (2-3, 2 RBI, BB, Sac) had multi-hit games.
The Pioneers are 12-5. The next game is a double header on Friday at home vs. Ottawa (3-10) at 1:00.
