Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Highlights | MNU secured their spot in the Opening Round with a victory over Benedictine on Saturday morning. The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the third when 2 hits and 2 errors produced 2 runs, but the Ravens answered with a bizarre run in the fourth. With runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, the Ravens hit a hard ground ball which was deflected down the right field line. The runner scored from second, but the batter got caught in a rundown. As she was tagged out, the other runner broke for home and was thrown out on a 9-3-6-4-2 run-scoring double play. In the bottom of the fifth, Benedictine recorded a 2-out RBI to tie the game, but MNU re-took the lead in the sixth. With 2 outs and nobody on,
Katie Williams,
Jadalynn Cirillo, and
Jenna Keen singled to bring home a run, and
Lynsey Keith led off the seventh with a solo shot to extend the advantage.
Megan Schwindler struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 seventh, and MNU won 4-2. Schwindler struck out 6 for her 19th win of the season, and Keith (2-4, 2 R, HR, RBI) had 2 of MNU's 6 hits.
In the tournament championship round, #14 Central Methodist jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 2 innings, but the Pioneers battled back against 4-time HAAC Pitcher of the Year Aubrey Utley.
Hayley Gately tripled and scored in the fourth, and MNU took advantage of 2 CMU errors and 3 hits to score 3 in the fifth to get back in the game. CMU iced the contest with a 3-run inside-the-park homer in the sixth, and the Eagles won 9-4.
Alexis Pacheco (3-4, R),
Vanessa Arandules (2-4, R),
Chelsey Streibich (2-4, R, RBI), and
Hayley Gately (2-4, R, 3B, RBI) had multi-hit games.
MNU is 26-13. The Opening Round destination and opponents will be announced soon.
