Box Score The Pioneers lost 7-1 to Peru State on Saturday, but just need a victory on Monday to advance to Nationals. To qualify for Nationals, the Pioneers either need to win the tournament or finish runner up to Peru State, and Peru State has advanced to the championship round.
Both starting pitchers cruised through the first 4 innings, but the Bobcats broke through in the top of the fifth. The first 2 pitches of the inning went for doubles, and Peru took a 1-0 lead. The inning snowballed from there and the Bobcats scored 5 runs on 7 hits to blow the game open. The Pioneers managed 11 hits against the best pitcher in the conference and one of the best in the country, Adam Quintana, but were unable to cross the plate until the bottom of the sixth. With Peru leading 7-0,
Jordan Eckley led off with a double and
Carlos Vargas walked. Seth Leiser singled home Eckley to break through, and the Pioneers loaded the bases with no outs. Quintana escaped further damage with a fielder's choice, a pickoff, and a popout, and held MNU the rest of the way. The Pioneer bullpen of
Zach Stinnett,
Tyler Taute, and
Blake Robberson allowed no earned runs in 4.1 innings, and
Carlos Vargas (2-3, BB),
Seth Lieser (2-3, 2B, RBI, BB),
Nelson Santiago (2-4), and
Brandon Marrero (2-3, BB) had 2 hits apiece.
MNU is 32-20. The next game is Monday in Joplin vs. Missouri Valley (29-15) at 1:00. The winner clinches a spot at Nationals then plays Peru immediately after.
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