Pioneers Sweep Valley

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 10 - Missouri Valley 7
Game 2 Score: MNU 15 - Missouri Valley 2
Game 3 Score: MNU 9 - Missouri Valley 3
Game 4 Score: MNU 15 - Missouri Valley 6
Record: MNU (33-12, 23-4) - MVC (14-33, 7-22)
Location: Marshall, Mo.

MARSHALL, Mo. - The Pioneers' win streak is at 20 after their 5th consecutive 4-game sweep over the weekend.

In Game 1, Valley scored twice in the bottom of the 1st, and the Pioneers scored single runs in the 2nd and 4th to tie it. The Vikings re-took the lead with a run in the bottom of the 4th, but MNU blew the game open in the 5th. After 2 runs crossed to give the Pioneers the lead, Ryan Leo's grand slam made it a 5-run game. Valley responded with 4 runs in the last 3 innings, but the Pioneers held on to win 10-7.

Game 1 Turning Point
Ryan Leo's grand slam gave MNU a lead they would not relinquish.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Kyle Waller struck out 5 in a 6-inning victory. And Adam Rellihan (3-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI), Brycen Sherwood (2-4, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI), and Ryan Leo (3-4, R, HR, 5 RBI) led the offense.

In Game 2, the Pioneers jumped ahead early and put up 15 runs, slugging 5 homers - including 2 from Joshuan Sandoval - while Jhon Vargas struck out 10 over 6 innings for a 15-2 victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 4-run 3rd inning made it 6-0.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Jhon Vargas struck out 10 and allowed just 3 hits in 6 innings for the win. And Adam Rellihan (3-5, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, SB), Joshuan Sandoval (2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Brycen Sherwood (2-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, SB), and Ryan Leo (2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) had multi-hit games.

In Game 3, the Pioneers jumped in front with a 4-run 1st inning - highlighted by a Joshuan Sandoval 3-run homer - and cruised to a 9-3 victory. Sandoval homered again in the 4th in support of a Tommy Castro complete game.

Game 3 Turning Point
Sandoval's homer in the 1st set the tone.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Tommy Castro struck out 5 in a complete game victory. And Joshuan Sandoval (3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI), Daunte Freeman (1-2, R, 2B, RBI, SB, HBP, SF), and Ryan Leo (0-4, 2 RBI) drove in runs for MNU.

In Game 4, Joshuan Sandoval's 5th homer of the series gave MNU an early lead, and the Pioneers rallied for 5 in the 2nd. But Valley scored 6 runs in the first 4 innings to hang around. With MNU leading 8-6 with 2 outs in the top of the 7th, the Pioneers exploded for a huge inning. Three Valley errors led to 7 runs, and MNU won 15-6.

Game 4 Turning Point
MNU's 7-run 7th put the game away.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Eric Navarette struck out 4 in 3.1 innings of 1-hit relief for the win. And Adam Rellihan (2-5, 2 R, 2 2B), Joshuan Sandoval (3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Brycen Sherwood (3-4, 3 R, BB), Ryan Leo (3-3, R, 2B, RBI), and Randy Fernandez (3-5, R, 2B, RBI) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next series is a conference tournament seeding best-of-3 series on Friday (single 9-inning game) and Saturday (9-inning double header*) at home vs. Park.

*Game 3 if necessary