Highlights | MNU split the HAAC opening double header with Evangel on Saturday. Game 1 was a pitching duel between Evangel's Reese Taylor and MNU's
Phillipe Graham. Evangel got on the board in the top of the fourth with a leadoff double followed by an RBI single, but the Pioneers responded in the bottom of the inning. With 2 outs and 2 on,
Brandon Jeffries battled for 8 pitches before lining a ball over the center fielder's head for a 2-run double. Neither team could put another rally together, and MNU held on for the 2-1 victory. Graham struck out 8 and allowed just 4 hits. Taylor allowed no earned runs and just 2 hits.
Santiago Romero (1-3) and Jeffries (1-2, 2B, 2 RBI) had MNU's knocks.
Game 2 was a good game until in got way out hand in the ninth. The Crusaders scored 3 times in the third but the Pioneers came back with 2 in the bottom of the inning. Evangel increased their lead with a 2-run fourth, and MNU answered with 1 in the fifth. Two more runs came across for Evangel in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead, but back-to-back homers from
Nelson Santiago and
Jordan Jones closed the gap once again. In the top of the ninth a hit batsman, a walk, and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs, and Evangel kept going for a disastrous inning for the Pioneers. When the dust settled, 12 runs scored on 5 hits, 2 errors, 5 hit batsmen, and a walk. Evangel took Game 2 by the score of 19-5.
Clayton Brandt (2-5, R, SB),
Jordan Eckley (2-3, R, 3B, RBI, BB, SB),
Carlos Vargas (2-4, RBI, BB),
Nelson Santiago (1-3, R, HR, RBI, HBP), and
Jordan Jones (1-3, R, HR, RBI, Sac) led the offense.
MNU is 13-6 (1-1 HAAC). The next game is a single 9-inning affair at home vs. McPherson (4-16) at 1:00.
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