Pioneers Take 3 of 4 from Valley

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 4 - Missouri Valley 3
Score 2: MNU 8 - Missouri Valley 3
Score 3: MNU 6 - Missouri Valley 3
Score 4: MNU 6 - Missouri Valley 7
Records: MNU (15-14, 8-4), MVC (9-16, 5-7)
Location: Dixon Stadium | Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. - The Pioneers won 3 of 4 games vs. Missouri Valley on Monday in Tuesday. MNU was the visiting team on the scoreboard as the series was moved to Olathe. In Game 1, a Dionathan Cornet 2-out RBI single gave MNU an early lead, and a rally in the 3rd brought home 3 more. With 1 out, 3 straight doubles from Brycen Sherwood, Javier Melendez, and Noah Castillo made it 3-0, and Cornet drove home another run for a 4-0 lead. Starter Zach Trevino kept Valley off the board until the 5th, and an unearned run came home in the 6th for a 4-2 score. In the 7th, a double and a single brought home a run and chased Trevino, but Kristian Hurtado escaped further damage and MNU won 4-3.

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 3-run 3rd proved to be enough.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 10 in 6.1 innings for the win. Kristian Hurtado got the final 2 outs for the save. And Brycen Sherwood (1-3, 2 R, 2B, BB), Javier Melendez (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and Dionathan Cornet (2-2, 2 RBI, BB) led the offense.

In Game 2, MNU jumped out to a 5-0 lead - highlighted by a Dionathan Cornet 3-run homer - in the top of the 1st inning, and the Pioneers cruised to an 8-3 win. 

Game 2 Turning Point
Cornet's 1st inning 3-run homer put the game out of reach.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Tyler Frieders struck out 4 in 5 innings for the win. Bryce Brecklin pitched 2 hitless innings of relief. And Noah Castillo (3-4, 2 R, RBI), Dionathan Cornet (2-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI), and Joey Calamaio (3-4, 2 RBI) led the offense.

In Game 3, the Vikings jumped in front with a 2-run 1st inning, but MNU rallied in the 3rd. Two walks and a balk set up MNU with 2 in scoring position with no outs. Sean Maple's RBI groundout got the Pioneers on the board, and a Javier Melendez 3-run homer put MNU in front. Valley scored 1 in the bottom of the 3rd, but a Drew Woodley 2-run homer made it 6-3 in the 4th. The pitching took over from there, and the 6-3 score was the final.

Game 3 Turning Point
Javier Melendez's 3-run homer in the 3rd turned the game around.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
John Barry struck out 5 in 4.2 innings for the win. Bryce Brecklin struck out 4 in 2.1 innings for the save. And Javier Melendez (1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI), Joshua Martinez (2-3, R), and Drew Woodley (2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, SB) led the offense.

In Game 4, MNU trailed 3-1 in the 5th inning before a Brysen Hamilton solo homer closed the gap. Valley answered with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th to take a 3-run lead, but MNU came back in the 6th. With one out, Javier Melendez singled and Noah Castillo walked ahead of a Dionathan Cornet RBI single. Sean Maple singled to load the bases, and a Joshua Martinez 2-run single tied the game. Valley rallied for 2 in the bottom of the 6th, however, and MNU trailed into the 7th. With 2 outs and nobody on, back-to-back singles from Melendez and Castillo put the tying runs on base. Cornet put a ball off the wall in right, but the tying run was cut down at the plate to end the game.

Game 4 Turning Point
Valley's 2-run 6th won the game.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Ryan Wilwers struck out 7 in 4 innings in a no-decision. And Javier Melendez (2-4, 2 R), Dionathan Cornet (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI), and Joshua Martinez (1-3, 2 RBI) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next double header is Friday at William Penn (17-10, 5-7) at 1:00/3:30.