Pioneers Take 3 of 4 from Culver

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 8 - Culver-Stockton 1 | Watch
Game 2 Score: MNU 6 - Culver-Stockton 5 | Watch
Game 3 Score: MNU 11 - Culver-Stockton 5 | Watch
Game 4 Score: MNU 7 - Culver-Stockton 11 | Watch
Record: MNU (16-11, 9-3) - CSC (5-19, 1-11)
Location: Avila University | Kansas City, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Pioneers swept the first 2 of a 4-game series from Culver-Stockton on Friday. In Game 1, Zach Trevino gave up a solo homer in the 2nd inning, but cruised through the rest of the game as the offense rallied for 5 in the 4th, 2 in the 5th, and another in the 7th for an 8-1 victory. In the top of the 4th, MNU loaded the bases with 1 out while trailing by 1. Randy Fernandez lifted a 2-strike pitch deep to left center for a ground rule double, and MNU took a 2-1 lead. After an RBI groundout, Drew Woodley drove a ball over the fence for his first homer, and MNU led 5-1. Will Morris extended the lead with a 2-run double in the 5th, and Joshuan Sandoval capped the scoring with a solo shot to center in the 7th.

Game 1 Turning Point
Randy Fernandez's 2-run double in the 4th turned a deficit into a lead.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 11 for the complete game win. And Drew Woodley (3-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Joshuan Sandoval (1-4, R, HR, RBI), Frank Vogel (1-2, 2 R), Josh Torrance (3-4, 2 R), Will Morris (1-1, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP), and Randy Fernandez (1-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) led the offense.

In Game 2, Drew Woodley started the scoring with a leadoff homer, but Culver responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the 2nd, Woodley's 2-out RBI double put MNU out front, and back-to-back bases-loaded walks made it 4-1. Josh Torrance capped the 5-run inning with a 2-run single, and MNU led 6-1. The Wildcats rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, and the MNU offense went cold for the rest of the game. The lead was cut to 1 in the bottom of the 5th, and Nathan Torres was called upon to get the final 6 outs. After a leadoff double in the 6th, Torres struck out the next 3 straight to escape. A leadoff walk and a wild pitch put the tying run in scoring position in the 7th, and a flyout put him on 3rd with 1 out. Torres got the big strikeout for the second out, and a groundout preserved the lead and ended the game.

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 5-run 2nd inning built a big lead.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Logan Burbach struck out 3 in 3.2 innings of relief for the win. Nathan Torres struck out 4 in 2 innings for the save. And Drew Woodley (3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Joshuan Sandoval (1-2, RBI, BB, HBP), Noah Castillo (1-2, RBI, BB), and Josh Torrance (1-4, 2 RBI, SB) drove in runs for MNU.

In Game 3, the Pioneers scored 3 in the top of the 1st and built a big early lead en route to an 11-5 victory. In the top of the 4th, a Joshuan Sandoval 3-run homer capped a 6-run inning, and the bullpen shut down Culver in the final innings to preserve the win.

Game 3 Turning Point
MNU's 6-run 4th put the game out of reach.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Eric Navarette struck out 7 and allowed no earned runs in 5 innings for the win. Alex Meyers pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief. And Drew Woodley (2-4, R, 3B, HBP), Brycen Sherwood (2-4, 3 R, BB), Ryan Leo (4-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB), Joshuan Sandoval (2-3, R, HR, 6 RBI, SF), and Josh Torrance (2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games.

In Game 4, Culver took a big lead with a 4-run bottom of the 2nd. The Pioneers responded in the top of the 3rd. Drew Woodley was hit by a pitch and Brycen Sherwood doubled him to 3rd. Ryan Leo's line drive to right field cleared the fence, and the deficit was trimmed to 1. Joshuan Sandoval followed with a walk, and pitcher Noah Castillo blasted a go-ahead 2-run homer to left. Culver answered back with a run in the bottom of the 3rd. Castillo put MNU ahead again with a 2-run single in the top of the 4th, but the Wildcats again punched back with 3 in the bottom to take the lead again. The Pioneer bats cooled in the final 3 innings, and Culver kept adding on for an 11-7 win.

Game 4 Turning Point
Culver's 3-run 4th put them up for good.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Brycen Sherwood (1-2, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB), Ryan Leo (2-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, SB), and Noah Castillo (4-4, R, HR, 4 RBI) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next game is a single 9-inning contest on Tuesday at home vs. Ottawa (23-4) at 2:00.