Pioneers Sweep Culver in Heart Opener

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 2 - C-SC 1 (10 inn)
Game 2 Score: MNU 6 - C-SC 2
Records: MNU (11-4, 2-0), Culver-Stockton (10-8, 0-2)
Location: Robbie Jones Field at Dixon Stadium - Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. - Head Coach Ryan Thompson got his 300th career victory as MNU swept Culver-Stockton 2-1 (10 inn) and 6-2 on Friday. In Game 1, a great pitchers duel ensued as a big strike zone, cold weather, and wind blowing in combined with stellar pitching. Both starters escaped bases loaded jams in the early innings, but Culver got on the board after an errant throw in the top of the 5th. In the bottom of the 6th, Robert Berning led off with a double and Chase Robinson and Jacob Jenkins were hit by pitches to load the bases with no outs. After a pop out, Nelson Santiago's pinch hit walk brought home the tying run. But MNU couldn't take the lead as a potential sacrifice fly was thwarted with a great throw to end the inning. The game remained tied into extra innings and MNU starter Matt Terrones completed 9 innings. In the 10th, Joel Lopez took over on the hill and and escaped a jam to move to the bottom of the inning still tied. After a leadoff single, Lopez was forced to hit and converted a sacrifice bunt. A groundout and a hit batsman followed, moving pinch runner Sam Parrish to 3rd with 2 outs. A wild pitch scored Parrish, and MNU won 2-1.

Game 1 Turning Point
The 2-out wild pitch in the 10th ended the game.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Matt Terrones allowed just 4 hits and struck out 9 in a 9-inning no-decision. Joel Lopez pitched a scoreless 10th and converted a sac bunt to earn the victory. And Robert Berning (2-5, 2B) had 2 hits.

In Game 2, MNU starter Jordan Dailey kept the Wildcats off the board until the 6th while MNU built a 6-0 lead. A Christian Quinones sac fly put MNU up 1-0 in the 4th, and Logan Tills' bases loaded single was followed by a wild pitch, a walk, and a Chase Robinson 3-run double to blow it open in the 5th. Culver scored single runs in the 6th and 7th, but Dailey completed the 6-2 victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
In the top of the 5th of a 1-run game, Culver had a runner on second with 1 out when a comebacker resulted in a rundown and the runner being erased. MNU scored 5 in the bottom of the inning.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Jordan Dailey allowed just 6 hits and 2 runs in a complete game victory. And Jason Jones (1-2, R, 2B, BB), Robert Berning (1-2, 2B, BB), and Chase Robinson (2-2, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) led the offense.

Up Next
The next double header is Tuesday at home vs. Mount Mercy (8-9, 1-1) starting at 1:00.