The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 15 - Tabor 7 (6 inn)
Game 2 Score: MNU 11 - Lindenwood-Belleville 6
Records: MNU (2-0)
Location: Chickasha, Okla.
CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Pioneers opened the 2019 season with 2 neutral site victories over Tabor and Lindenwood-Belleville on Saturday. Against Tabor, the Pioneers jumped out to a 3-run 1st inning lead when with 2 outs,
Emily Robinson doubled and
Taylor Creason walked. Kiney Kiser drove them both in with a triple then scored on a wild pitch. MNU kept the pressure on with a 5-run 2nd, highlighted by 2 more Kiser RBIs, to take an 8-0 lead. Tabor made a game of it with 7 runs on 5 hits and a couple errors in the 4th, but MNU pulled away with 4 runs in the 5th - including an inside-the-park 3-run homer from
Kaleigh Bayless - and 3 more in the 6th to win via the mercy rule.
Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 8 runs in the first 2 innings proved too much to overcome.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Emily Robinson struck out 4 in a complete game victory to go along with 3 hits, 2 runs, and an RBI at the plate. And
Kaleigh Bayless (3-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI),
Kinsey Kiser (3-4, 2 R, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 SB), and
Emily Butcoff (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) also had multi-hit games.
In Game 2, MNU jumped out to an early lead and never gave it up in an 11-6 victory over Lindenwood-Belleville. Two runs in the 1st combined with back-to-back RBI triples in the 3rd for a 4-0 lead. LU-B got back in the game with a 3-run 4th, but the Pioneers responded immediately with 4 runs on 3 hits in the top of the 5th and won 11-6.
Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 4 early runs gave the Pioneers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Allison Denges pitched 5 innings for her first MNU victory. And
Cassidy Berry (3-4, 4 R, 2B, 2 SB),
Emily Robinson (2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB),
Kinsey Kiser (2-3, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI, SF), and
Taylor Creason (3-4, R, 2 3B, 4 RBI) had big games at the plate.
Up Next
The next scheduled double header is Friday at home vs. Dordt (2-4) at 4:00, but who are we kidding. UPDATE: Dordt games canceled
