The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 1 - Evangel 5
Game 2 Score: MNU 7 - Clarke 6
Records: MNU (28-20, 18-15)
Location: Bill McKinney Heritage Park - St. Joseph, Mo.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - MNU lost the first round game vs. Evangel but beat Clarke in the elimination game to stay alive in the Heart Conference Tournament. In the first game vs. Evangel, MNU got on the board first in the top of the 5th after
Hanna VanLanker tripled and
Natalie Clark drove her in with a sac fly. But Evangel used a 2-out 2-run single to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. The Crusaders put the game away with a 3-run 6th and won 5-1.
Game 1 Turning Point
A 2-out 2-run single gave Evangel the lead for good in the 5th.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Maddie Johnson (1-3),
Lydia Reyes (1-3, 2B),
Brittany Jacobsen (1-3), and
Hanna VanLanker (1-3, R, 3B, SB) had MNU's 4 hits.
In the elimination game vs. Clarke, the Pioneers jumped out early with a 3-run 1st inning.
Lydia Reyes' 2-run homer highlighted a 4-run 2nd inning, and MNU led 7-0. Clarke chipped away with single runs in the 3rd and 4th, then put up 4 in the top of the 5th to get within 1. The score was still 7-6 in the 7th when Clarke led off the inning with 2 singles. But
Kourtney Larson ended the threat with a strikeout, a groundout, and another strikeout to preserve the victory.
Game 2 Turning Point
Seven early runs held up for MNU.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Lydia Reyes struck out 5 in 4.1 innings for the win.
Kourtney Larson struck out 2 in the 7th for the save. And
Madison Butcoff (1-3, 2 R, BB, SB),
Lydia Reyes (3-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI),
Emily Robinson (2-3, 2 R, RBI),
Brittany Jacobsen (1-2, R, 3B, RBI, HBP), and
Hanna VanLanker (2-3, 3 RBI, SB) led the offense.
Up Next
The next game is Friday in St. Joseph vs. Culver-Stockton (24-25) at 12:30. If MNU wins they play again at 5:30.
