Pioneers Sweep at Grand View

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 5 - Grand View 3
Game 2 Score: MNU 8 - Grand View 0
Game 3 Score: MNU 11 - Grand View 6
Game 4 Score: MNU 17 - Grand View 11
Record: MNU (17-12, 7-4) - GVU (4-16, 1-11)
Location: Lou Yacinic Field | Des Moines, Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Pioneers swept a 4-game series at Grand View.

In Game 1, MNU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st with a 2-out rally, and did the same in the 2nd to go up 3-0. Grand View got 2 in the bottom of the 3rd, but the Pioneers responded with 1 in the 4th. MNU made it 5-2 in the 6th and Grand View managed just a single run in the 7th for a 5-3 final.

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 4th run in the top of the 4th proved to be the game winner.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Kyle Waller struck out 7 in 5.1 innings for the win. Eric Navarette got 5 outs for the save. And Adam Rellihan (2-4, RBI, SB), Joshuan Sandoval (1-3, 2B, RBI, SF), Daunte Freeman (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB), Ryan Leo (2-3, SB), and Brycen Sherwood (2-3, R) led the offense.

In Game 2, MNU blew it open late and Jhon Vargas dominated on the mound. The Pioneers scored single runs in the 1st and 3rd innings, and that was all Vargas needed. He needed just 85 pitches in his complete game 4-hit 7-strikeout shutout, and MNU added 6 late runs for an 8-0 final.

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's run in the 1st was the game-winner.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Jhon Vargas struck out 7 and allowed just 4 hits in a complete game 85-pitch shutout. And Josh Torrance (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Randy Fernandez (2-4, R, RBI, SB), and Austin Healy (2-4, 3 R, 2B, SB) had multi-hit games.

In Game 3, MNU needed to back a late comeback to get their 3rd straight win. The Pioneers trailed 3-2 heading to the 5th inning, but a big rally gave them the lead. An error and 2 walks loaded the bases with nobody out. Daunte Freeman singled home the tying run, and Ryan Leo's sac fly put the Pioneers up 4-3. Another sac fly and 3 more singles put MNU up 8-3, and 3 more in the 6th - highlighted by a Freeman 2-run double - put the game out of reach for an 11-6 victory.

Game 3 Turning Point
MNU's 6-run 5th turned the game around.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Nick Michael picked up the win in relief. And Daunte Freeman (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, SB), Randy Fernandez (1-3, R, 2 RBI, SF), Jacob Jenkins (1-3, R, RBI, BB, SB), and Brycen Sherwood (2-3, R, RBI, SB, HBP) led the offense.

In Game 4, the offense exploded for 6 homers and MNU won a slugfest. Adam Rellihan hit a 2-run shot in the 1st inning to spark a 6-run outburst, Daunte Freeman hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd for an 8-0 lead, and Joshuan Sandoval and Freeman went back-to-back in the 3rd for a 13-0 advantage. Sandoval homered again in the 4th, and Freeman's 3rd homer of the game made the score 15-7 in the top of the 6th. Grand View managed 2 runs in each of the last 3 innings, but the Pioneers won 17-11 for the 4-game road sweep.

Game 4 Turning Point
MNU's 6-run 1st set the tone.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Brady Boyd earned a win as the most effective reliever. And Adam Rellihan (3-6, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI), Joshuan Sandoval (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Daunte Freeman (3-4, 3 R, 3 HR, 4 RBI, BB, HBP), and Ryan Leo (4-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI, HBP) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next double header is Friday at home vs. Evangel at 1:00/3:30.