Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 HighlightsThe Pioneers won their first HAAC title since 1984 in a double header sweep of Benedictine on Friday. In Game 1, the Pioneer offense couldn't get anything going, but the defense kept it close for starter
Tino Luna. Great plays from
Clayton Brandt and
Jordan Eckley kept the Ravens to 1 run despite several scoring opportunities. With 1 out in the bottom of the seventh,
Seth Lieser's fly ball to right field cleared the fence and tied the game, and the teams went to extra innings. Both Luna and the Benedictine starter, Austin Harrison, pitched 9 innings of 7-hit 1-run ball before giving way to the bullpen, and MNU took advantage first.
Clayton Brandt drilled a 2-2 pitch over the left-center field fence, and the Pioneers came away with a 2-1 victory.
Nick Kevlin picked up the win in relief, and Brandt (1-5, R, HR, RBI),
Trent Sullivan (2-4, SB), and
Seth Lieser (1-3, R, HR, RBI, sac) led the offense.
In Game 2, the Pioneer offense started early. Brandt led off with a walk and moved to third on a stolen and base and a groundout. After a
Jordan Eckley walk,
Carlos Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1.
Joe Smith followed with a walk and Santiago followed with a 2-run double to give MNU the lead. In the second inning,
Ricco Moreno got hit by a pitch to lead off, and
Colin Starr followed with a single.
Trent Sullivan walked one out later to load the bases, and
Jordan Eckley crushed a grand slam give MNU a 7-1 lead. Benedictine fought back, however, with a grand slam of their own in the fifth to get within 2.
Nick Kevlin got out of a 2nd & 3rd 1-out jam in the sixth with 2 strikeouts, and pitched a perfect seventh to complete the sweep and clinch the title.
Trent Hedlund struck out 3 in his 9th win, Kevlin earned the save, and Eckley (1-3, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB) and Romero (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI) led the offense.
MNU earned the HAAC title as they lead Evangel by 2 games in the standings with 2 to play. But even if Evangel ties MNU tomorrow, the Pioneers hold the tie-break over the Crusaders and would still earn the 1-seed and automatic berth to Nationals.
MNU is 30-13 (20-4 HAAC). The next double header is Senior Day on Saturday at home vs. Benedictine (10-28, 8-16) at 1:00.
