The Pioneers trailed 11-1 in the sixth inning before mounting a comeback, but the hole was too deep and MNU fell to Avila 12-9 in the HAAC Conference Tournament on Thursday. The loss eliminates MNU from the post season after they fell 6-5 to CMU on Wednesday.
Box and Play by Play Avila got on the board first in the second inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. An RBI fielder's choice scored a run, but the Pioneers allowed no further damage. Avila then continued to score as MNU struggled to get anything going against HAAC Pitcher of the Year Chris Thomas. The Eagles scored 3 in the third, 2 in the fourth, 1 in the fifth, and 4 more in the sixth to build an 11-2 lead after 6 innings. When Thomas exited the game in the seventh, the Pioneers tried to come back.
Donnie MacLeod led off the inning with a walk, and Kyle Segrave promptly drove him home with a double.
Derek Glenn walked and
Ben Alison singled to score another run, and the new pitcher was chased after yet another walk to
Alex Murrieta. One out later,
Timothy Barraza's double brought home 2 more and MNU added a 5th run on an error to close the gap to 11-7. Avila managed a single run in the top of the eighth, and the Pioneers scored 2 in the ninth to account for the 12-9 final.
Ben Alison (2-5, R, RBI),
Josh Greer (3-5, R),
Timothy Barraza (1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP), and
Colin Starr (2-5, 2B, 3 RBI) led the offense.
The Pioneers end the season with a program-record 38 wins.
