Highlights
The Basics
Score: MNU 9 - Oklahoma City 5
Records: MNU (39-16) - OCU (48-6)
Location: Jim Wade Stadium | Oklahoma City, Okla.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - MNU captured the biggest win in program history with a 9-5 victory over #3-ranked and 1-seed Oklahoma City on Wednesday. In its 50th season, MNU Baseball will play in the NAIA World Series for the first time. OCU started strongly, batting around in the bottom of the 1st and scoring 3 runs, but the bases were left loaded and the Pioneers responded immediately. With one out in the top of the 2nd, the Pioneers started to rally.
Josh Torrance singled and
Randy Fernandez followed with what looked to be an easy double play grounder. But it turned into a bad-hop single to keep the inning alive, and
Ryan Leo walked to load the bases.
Joshua Martinez, making his first start of the season in place of the injured DH
Noah Castillo, served an RBI single to left to get the Pioneers on the board. With 2 outs and the bases still loaded,
Drew Woodley walked and
Brycen Sherwood followed with a single to tie the game.
Dionathan Cornett and
Joshuan Sandoval were both hit by a pitch for 2 more runs, and MNU led 5-3.
Martinez again made his presence felt in the 3rd with a sac fly, and the Pioneers led 6-3. A 2-out infield single from Woodley increased the lead to 4 in the top of the 5th. Reliever
Alex Meyers kept the Stars off the board after the 1st inning through the 5th, and
Eric Navarette took over in the 6th. He allowed 2 hits in the 6th, but a big strikeout ended the threat and sent the game to the 7th. Martinez singled again in the 7th with one out, and Woodley kept the inning alive with a two-out knock to left.
Brycen Sherwood followed with a back-breaking double into the right field corner, and both runners scored for a 9-3 lead.
After two more Star baserunners were left stranded in the 7th, the Pioneers were in the home stretch. Navarette worked a 1-2-3 8th inning, and MNU was on the verge of beating the #3 team in the country on consecutive days on the road. The Stars made some noise in the bottom of the 9th, as 3 singles and a walk chased Navarette, and Monday's starter
Zach Trevino entered the game to close it out. He struck out the first batter he faced, and the next hitter recorded an RBI groundout to make it 9-5 with 2 outs. Trevino struck out the next batter, and the Pioneers advanced to the NAIA World Series.
Turning Point
The would-be double play which turned into a single sparked a 5-run 2nd inning.
Individual Leaders
Alex Meyers earned his first win of the season with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Eric Navarette struck out 3 in 3 innings of relief.
Zach Trevino struck out 2 in 1 inning to close it out. And
Drew Woodley (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB),
Brycen Sherwood (2-5, 2B, 3 RBI), and
Joshua Martinez (2-4, R, 2 RBI, SF) had 2 hits apiece.
Up Next
The next game is in Lewiston, Idaho at the 2022 Avista NAIA World Series. Times and opponents TBA.
