The Pioneers used a huge fifth inning to take Game 3 of the best-of-3 HAAC tourney quarterfinal series on Saturday.
Box and Play by Play Graceland got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when a leadoff walk eventually scored to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead. MNU tied the game in the fourth when
Adriana Asano led off with a solo homer, and they wouldn't trail again. With one out in the top of the fifth,
Janessa Swinney reached on an error and advanced to 2nd on a
Jen Polivka single.
Lynsey Keith reached on another error which scored a run, and
Cait Gardner singled home another run. Asano followed with an RBI double and
Brittany Williams extended the lead with a sacrifice fly. Two more hits and two more errors brought home 3 more runs, and the Pioneers ended the inning with a 7-run lead. Starting pitcher
Gale Christner held Graceland the rest of the way and the Pioneers won 8-1.
Lynsey Keith (1-2, R, 2 BB),
Adriana Asano (2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), and
Brittany Williams (1-2, RBI, HBP, SF) led the offense.
The Pioneers are 20-16 (9-9 HAAC). The next game will be next weekend in the double-elimination 4-team tournament (CMU, Evangel, and Baker are the other teams) played at the Blue Valley Softball Complex in Overland Park. Times and opponents will be announced.
