Pioneers Split 4 vs. Peru

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 1 - Peru State 3 | Watch
Game 2 Score: MNU 8 - Peru State 2 | Watch
Game 3 Score: MNU 2 - Peru State 3 | Watch
Game 4 Score: MNU 11 - Peru State 2 | Watch
Record: MNU (9-10, 2-2) - PSC (4-18, 2-2)
Location: Robbie Jones Field at Dixon Stadium | Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. - MNU split the opening double header of the Heart schedule vs. Peru State on Monday. In Game 1, the Pioneer offense struggled to get anything going, and the Bobcats used a solo homer in the 2nd to carry a 1-0 lead into the 5th. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th, Noah Castillo's RBI double tied the game at 1. Peru homered again in the 6th and scored on a sac fly in the 7th, and MNU fell 3-1.

Game 1 Turning Point
Peru's solo homer in the top of the 6th was the game winner.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 4 in a complete game loss. And Drew Woodley (2-3, 2B), Ryan Leo (1-3), and Noah Castillo (1-2, 2B, RBI) collected MNU's 4 hits.

In Game 2, the offense again struggled to get started, and Peru scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 4th to take a 1-0 lead. A Bobcat solo homer in the 5th made it 2-0, but the Pioneer bats woke in the bottom of the 5th. With 2 outs and 1 on, Dionathan Cornett doubled to the center field fence to cut the deficit in half. Drew Woodley followed with a game-tying single, and a hit batsman put another runner on. Ryan Leo drove a ball over the right-fielder's head to clear the bases, and MNU led 4-2. Peru got a 2-out single in the top of the 6th, but MNU countered with closer Nathan Torres. A full count walk put the tying run on base, but a strikeout ended the threat. Joshuan Sandoval led off the 7th with a solo homer, and 3 more runs followed to give MNU an 8-2 lead. Torres struck out the side in the 7th to close it out, and MNU earned a split.

Game 2 Turning Point
Ryan Leo's 2-RBI double in the 5th put MNU on top for good.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Kristian Hurtado struck out 10 in 5.2 innings for the win. Nathan Torres recorded all 4 of his outs via swinging strikeout for the save. And Drew Woodley (1-3, R, RBI, BB), Brycen Sherwood (1-2, R, BB, HBP), Ryan Leo (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Joshuan Sandoval (1-3, R, HR, RBI), Will Morris (1-3, 2 R, RBI, SB), and Dionathan Cornett (1-1, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SF) led the offense.

In Game 3, the Pioneer bats were kept silent until the 7th while Peru built a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, an error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases with 1 out. A sacrifice fly brought home a run, and another single made it 3-2. But the rally ended there, and MNU lost 3-2.

Game 3 Turning Point
Peru's solo homer in the 6th proved to be the game winner.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Logan Burbach struck out 6 in 3.1 innings of relief in a no-decision. And Ryan Leo (0-3, RBI, SF) and Joshuan Sandoval (1-3, RBI, BB) drove in MNU's 2 runs.

In Game 4, both offenses were quiet into the 4th inning. In the bottom of the 4th of a scoreless game, Dionathan Cornett's 2-run homer started a rally which brought 4 more runs home for a 6-0 advantage. In the bottom of the 6th, starting pitcher Noah Castillo drilled a grand slam to blow the game open, and MNU won 11-2.

Game 4 Turning Point
Dionathan Cornett's homer ignited the offense.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Noah Castillo struck out 5 in 5 innings for the win. Reece Helland and Nathan Torres combined for 2 innings of hitless relief. And Drew Woodley (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB, HBP), Brycen Sherwood (1-2, 2 SB, HBP, Sac), Ryan Leo (1-2, R, RBI, BB, 2 SB, SF), Josh Torrance (2-4, R, RBI, SB), Dionathan Cornett (2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI), and Noah Castillo (2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI) led the offense.

Up Next
The next double header is Friday at Park (9-3, 1-1) at 12:00/3:00.