Pioneers Win 4 in Wichita

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 10 - Dakota State 8
Game 2 Score: MNU 3 - Midland 0
Game 3 Score: MNU 7 - Mount Marty 4
Game 4 Score: MNU 14 - Waldorf 3 (5 inn)
Records: MNU (8-6)
Location: Two Rivers Youth Complex - Wichita, Kan.

WICHITA, Kan. - The Pioneers swept 4 games in Wichita on Friday & Saturday. In Game 1 vs. Dakota State, MNU trailed 3-1 in the 3rd inning when Morgan Fouch's 2-out 2-run single tied the game. In the bottom of the 4th, Alli VanLanker's second grand slam of the season put MNU up 7-3. Both teams kept scoring in the late innings, but MNU held on to win 10-8.

Game 1 Turning Point
Alli VanLanker's grand slam turned a 3-3 game into a 7-3 game.

🥎 Alli VanLanker puts @MnuSoftball in front! #FearTheNeer pic.twitter.com/sONJHPWNSs

— MNU Sports (@mnusports) March 3, 2023

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Chloe Smith struck out 6 in 5.2 innings for the win. Hannah Etzel struck out 3 in 1.1 innings for the save. And Cordelia Hanger (2-3, 3 R, BB, 2 SB), Alli VanLanker (2-3, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI, BB), Kelly Stoakes (2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB), and Morgan Fouch (2-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB) led the offense.

In Game 2 vs. #22 Midland, Grace Berlage dominated in the circle, but the game was scoreless into the bottom of the 6th. With 2 outs and Kaleigh Bayless on second, Kelly Stoakes drove a single to left to give MNU a 1-0 lead. Morgan Fouch followed with an RBI double, and Chloe Smith drove home Fouch with a single to make it 3-0. Berlage completed her 1-hit shutout with her 11th strikeout, and MNU took the game.

Game 2 Turning Point
Kelly Stoake's RBI single in the 6th was the game winner.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage struck out 11 in a 1-hit complete game shutout. And Kelly Stoakes (3-3, R, RBI), Morgan Fouch (1-3, R, 2B, RBI), and Chloe Smith (2-3, RBI) drove in MNU's 3 runs.

🥎 @MnuSoftball Grace Berlage was unhittable tonight! #FearTheNeer #HeartSB pic.twitter.com/wldoZiT9eK

— MNU Sports (@mnusports) March 4, 2023

In Game 3 vs. Mount Marty, a Chloe Smith 3-run homer in the top of the 1st capped a 4-run inning. The Lancers scored twice in the bottom of the inning, but the Pioneers scored single runs in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th to take a 7-2 lead. Mt. Marty got a run in the 6th, and scored another and loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 7th. But a groundout ended the threat and MNU won 7-4.

Game 3 Turning Point
Chloe Smith's 2-out 3-run homer in the 1st put MNU up 4-0.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Sarah Melodia struck out 4 in 6 innings for the win. And Cordelia Hanger (4-5, 2 R, SB), Morgan Fouch (2-2, RBI, HBP, SF), and Chloe Smith (1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI) led the offense.

In Game 4 vs. Waldorf, a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st put MNU in a 2-0 deficit. But MNU rallied for a huge bottom of the 1st. Cordelia Hanger doubled, and 3 straight singles from Kaliegh Bayless, Kelly Stoakes, and Morgan Fouch set up a Chloe Smith 2-run double. After a walk, Nyah Brown had an RBI double, and Hanger's second hit of the inning - an RBI single - capped a 7-run frame. MNU scored 2 more in the 2nd and rallied for 4 in the 3rd to take a huge lead, and the Pioneers won 14-3 in 5 innings.

Game 4 Turning Point
MNU's 7-run 1st was enough.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage struck out 10 in a 5-inning complete game. And Cordelia Hanger (2-4, R, 2B, RBI, SB), Kaleigh Bayless (3-4, 3 R, 2B, RBI), Kelly Stoakes (2-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI), Morgan Fouch (3-3, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB), Chloe Smith (3-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI), Nyah Brown (2-3, R, 2B, RBI), and Gabriella Pena (1-3, 3 RBI) led the offense.

Up Next
The next double header is the home opener on Thursday vs. Doane (8-8) at 1:00/3:00.