The Basics
Score: MNU 5 - Clarke 1
Score: MNU 14 - Central Methodist 8
Records: MNU (35-15) - CMU (41-13) - CU (38-15)
Location: US Ballpark | Ozark, Mo.
OZARK, Mo. - The Pioneers punched their ticket to Nationals in Monday's morning game, then beat #12 Central Methodist in the afternoon to force a final conference tournament game to be played at noon on Tuesday. In the morning game, Clarke got on the board in the top of the 3rd with a 2-out RBI single. MNU responded in the bottom of the 4th.
Noah Castillo, batting for himself as the starting pitcher, led off with a walk.
Joshuan Sandoval followed with a walk, and
Josh Torrance squared around in the obvious bunt situation. But on an 0-1 pitch, he pulled the bat back and slashed a single to right to tie the game.
Randy Fernandez followed with an RBI single, and MNU took a 2-1 lead.
Noah Castillo struck out 8 of the final 9 outs he recorded through the 5th inning, and after a leadoff single by Clarke, Coach Thompson went to his well-rested bullpen in the 6th.
Reece Helland retired the next 3 batters to escape the 6th, and
Kristian Hurtado allowed only a harmless 2-out single in a quick 7th. Closer
Nathan Torres entered in the 8th for a 6-out save, and retired the side in order. In the bottom of the 8th,
Noah Castillo's 1-out double - his 4th reach in as many plate appearances - sparked a rally. Sandoval was intentionally walked, and Torrance was walked to load the bases.
Randy Fernandez singled to left to score 1, but another run was cut down at home for the second out. Pinch hitter
Joshua Martinez walked to re-load the bases, and pinch hitter
Will Morris made it 4-1 with a single to left.
Frank Vogel made it 5-1 with another single, and another runner was thrown out at home to end the inning. Torres walked the first two batters in the top of the 9th, but 2 flyouts and a strikeout ended the threat and sent MNU to Nationals.
Game 1 Turning Point
Josh Torrance and
Randy Fernandez's RBI singles in the 4th turned the game around.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Noah Castillo struck out a season-high 10 in 5.0 innings for the win. He also went 2-2 with a double, a walk, and an HBP at the plate.
Reece Helland,
Kristian Hurtado, and
Nathan Torres combined for 4 innings of scoreless 1-hit relief. And
Josh Torrance (2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB), and
Randy Fernandez (2-4, 2 RBI) had 2 hits apiece.
In the afternoon game vs. CMU, MNU needed to win to force the "if necessary" game on Tuesday. The Eagles jumped all over the Pioneers, scoring 5 runs in the top of the 1st. MNU loaded the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st, and a
Randy Fernandez clutch single brought home 2 to keep MNU in the game. CMU scored single runs in the 2nd and 3rd, but a
Dionathan Cornett 2-run homer and a
Frank Vogel 2-run double brought MNU back to within 1.
In the bottom of the 4th,
Joshuan Sandoval tied the game with a solo homer...
...and
Josh Torrance gave MNU an 8-7 lead with an RBI single. The Eagles tied it with 2-out RBI double in the 5th, but they would not score again. In the bottom of the 5th, 3 straight walks loaded the bases, and Cornett gave MNU a 9-8 lead with a sac fly. The Pioneers blew it open in the bottom of the 6th. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, a wild pitch extended the lead, and
Will Morris - subbing for the banged up
Noah Castillo - doubled home 2 for a 4-run lead. Cornett followed with a 2-run single, and the MNU bullpen recorded the final 9 outs without much threat to force another game.
Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 5-run 6th was too much for CMU to overcome.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Reece Helland allowed no runs and 1 hit in 1.2 innings of relief for the win.
Kristian Hurtado struck out 4 in a 3-inning save. And
Will Morris (1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB),
Joshuan Sandoval (1-3, R, HR, RBI, 3 BB),
Dionathan Cornett (2-4, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI, HBP),
Randy Fernandez (3-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI),
Josh Torrance (2-4, R, RBI, BB), and
Frank Vogel (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI) drove in runs for MNU.
Up Next
The next game is Tuesday vs. #12 Central Methodist (41-13) at noon. This marks the second year in a row that MNU and CMU will face off 7 times.
