Pioneers Clinch Heart Title

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 19 - Evangel 2
Game 2 Score: MNU 17 - Evangel 7
Game 3 Score: MNU 1 - Evangel 0
Game 4 Score: MNU 19 - Evangel 11
Record: MNU (33-14, 26-6) - EU (19-29, 10-22)
Location: University Field | Springfield, Mo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - MNU captured the program's 4th conference title during a 4-game sweep of Evangel over the weekend. In Game 1, the offense continued where it left off from the previous weekend. Joshuan Sandoval led off with a homer in the top of the 2nd, and MNU rallied for 8 runs, capped by another massive Sandoval bomb, to take a huge lead. In the top of the 3rd, Dionathan Cornett's grand slam and Brycen Sherwood's 2-run homer made it 14-0. Frank Vogel and Ryan Leo also homered, and MNU won 19-2 to clinch the conference title. In 50 years of MNU Baseball, the Pioneers were also conference champs in 1984, 2012 (West Division), and 2014.

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 8-run 2nd inning effectively ended the game.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 9 in a complete game victory. And Drew Woodley (3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, BB), Brycen Sherwood (3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Noah Castillo (3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI), Joshuan Sandoval (3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Randy Fernandez (2-5, 2 R), Ryan Leo (2-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI), Frank Vogel (2-3, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB), and Dionathan Cornett (2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI) had multi-hit games.

In Game 2, Evangel took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd with a 2-run homer, but the Pioneers got on track in the top of the 3rd. Frank Vogel led off with a homer, and Randy Fernandez drilled a 2-out grand slam to give MNU a 6-2 lead. Brycen Sherwood homered in a 2-run 4th, Joey Calamaio added a pinch hit solo shot in the 5th, and Dionathan Cornett and Ryan Leo homered around a Randy Fernandez 3-run double for an 8-run 6th to blow it open. Evangel scored 4 in the bottom of the 6th, but MNU won 17-7.

Game 2 Turning Point
Randy Fernandez's 2-out grand slam in the 3rd put MNU up for good.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Noah Castillo struck out 5 in 4 innings for the win. Alex Meyers struck out 4 in 2 innings of relief. And Brycen Sherwood (1-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, HBP), Noah Castillo (3-5, R, 2 RBI), Joey Calamaio (1-2, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB), Randy Fernandez (2-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 7 RBI), Ryan Leo (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI), Frank Vogel (2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI, HBP), and Dionathan Cornett (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) drove in runs for MNU.

In Game 3, starting pitcher Eric Navarette and relievers Reece Helland and Nathan Torres kept Evangel off the board, and 1 unearned run in the top of the 1st was the only tally of the only truly competitive game of the series. In the top of the 1st, Brycen Sherwood's sinking line drive to center sneaked under the centerfielder's diving glove and turned into a triple. A passed ball allowed Sherwood to score, and the pitchers dominated the rest of the game. 

Game 3 Turning Point
Sherwood's run in the 1st was the difference.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Eric Navarette allowed just 2 hits in 5 innings for the win. Reece Helland struck out 2 in a scoreless 6th. Nathan Torres earned his 11th save while striking out all 3 he faced in the 7th. And Brycen Sherwood (1-3, R, 3B), Josh Torrance (1-3), Randy Fernandez (3-3), and Frank Vogel (1-3, 2B, SB) recorded MNU's 6 hits.

In Game 4, outs were hard to come by as both teams scored in each of the first 5 innings. Randy Fernandez went 5-5 to complete an 8-8 afternoon, and MNU's 9-run 2nd and 6-run 5th were able to keep the Valor at bay. And the Pioneers won 19-11 to complete the sweep.

Game 4 Turning Point
MNU's 9-run 2nd inning made it 10-1.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Logan Burbach struck out 1 in 1 inning of scoreless relief. Nathan Torres picked up the win (via the "most effective reliever" clause) with a scoreless 7th. And Drew Woodley (2-6, 2 R, RBI), Brycen Sherwood (1-2, 4 R, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, HBP), Josh Torrance (4-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB), Noah Castillo (2-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Randy Fernandez (5-5, 2 R, 6 RBI), Ryan Leo (2-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI, SF), Dionathan Cornett (2-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI), and Joshua Hinojos (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) led the offense.

Up Next
The next game is the Conference Tournament on Friday the 6th at 5:00, where MNU has earned the 1-seed and awaits the winner of the 4/5 matchup.