The Pioneer softball season came to a close with 2 tough losses in the conference tournament on Friday.
Box and Play by Play In the first game vs. 1-seed Central Methodist, MNU couldn't manage a hit vs. HAAC Pitcher of the Year Aubrey Utley until
Janessa Swinney's 2-out single in the sixth. Meanwhile, CMU scored single runs in the first, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. The Pioneers threatened in the seventh when
Lynsey Keith singled with one out. With two outs,
Adriana Asano and
Brittany Williams singled to bring home a run and put the tying run on base. A groundout ended the threat and MNU fell 3-1.
Janessa Swinney (1-3),
Lynsey Keith (1-3, R),
Adriana Asano (1-3), and
Brittany Williams (1-3, RBI) recorded a hit.
Box and Play by Play In the elimination game vs. 2-seed Evangel, neither team scored until the Pioneers blew the game open in the fifth.
Jessica Scarlett led off with a single and
Janessa Swinney's bunt attempt was thrown away. One out later,
Janessa Swinney singled to load the bases, and
Jen Polivka's RBI single gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Lynsey Keith followed with a bases-clearing triple down the left field line, and
Cait Gardner drove her home for a 5-0 MNU lead. HAAC Player of the Year, Evangel's Danelle Billings, got the Crusaders back in the game with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 5th, and Evangel rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take to take a 7-5 lead. The Pioneers appeared dead when the first 2 hitters made outs in the seventh, but
Lynsey Keith and
Cait Gardner kept the inning alive with back-to-back singles.
Adriana Asano's double then brought home a run and put the go-ahead run at second.
Brittany Williams then nailed a 2-run single to left-center to give MNU an 8-7 lead, but Evangel was not done. After a leadoff double, the Pioneers recorded 2 outs to put themselves on the brink of victory. A throwing error extended the inning, and a walk loaded the bases in front of Billings. The Player of the Year promptly drilled a double off the fence, bringing home 2 runs and ending the game 9-8.
Janessa Swinney (2-4, R, SB),
Lynsey Keith (2-3, 2 R, 3B, 3 RBI, BB),
Cait Gardner (2-4, RBI),
Adriana Asano (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and
Brittany Williams (1-3, 2 RBI, Sac) led the offense.
The Pioneers close the season with a record of 20-18.
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