Pioneers Sweep Pirates

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 6 - Park 1
Game 2 Score: MNU 5 - Park 2
Records: MNU (14-8, 4-2), PU (12-10, 1-5)
Location: Parkville, Mo.

PARKVILLE, Mo. - The Pioneers came back in Game 2 to sweep a double header at Park on Friday. In Game 1, Park got on the board in the bottom of the 1st with a 2-out double, but starter Grace Berlage shut the Pirates down the rest of the way. In the top of the 4th, Alli VanLanker led off with a single and Kelly Stoakes knocker her in 1 out later. In the top of the 6th with the game still tied at 1, Morgan Fouch led off with a double followed by an Abby Schulte walk and Rilee Slycord single to load the bases. A lengthy at bat from Londin Fiorella finally resulted in a 2-run double, and MNU took the lead. Nyah Brown followed with an RBI single, and a 2-out 2-run single from Kaleigh Bayless capped a 5-run inning and 6-1 lead.

Game 1 Turning Point
Londin Fiorella's 2-run double put MNU up for good.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage struck out 4 in 6 innings for the win. Josie Day pitched a scoreless 7th. And Kaleigh Bayless (1-2, 2 RBI, HBP, Sac), Kelly Stoakes (3-4, RBI), Morgan Fouch (1-2, R, 2B, HBP, Sac), Abby Schulte (2-3, R, BB), Rilee Slycord (2-4, R), and Londin Fiorella (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI) had big games at the plate.

In Game 2, MNU couldn't get much going offensively while Park built a 2-0 lead. Grace Berlage entered the game in a jam in the 3rd, and the inherited runners scored, but Park managed just the 2 runs. In the top of the 6th, MNU finally broke through. With 1 out, Kelly Stoakes doubled and Morgan Fouch singled to put the tying runs on base. Abby Schulte singled to get the Pioneers on the board, and Londin Fiorella's 2-out RBI single tied the game. In the bottom of the 6th, Park loaded the bases with no outs, but Berlage escaped with a popout, a fielder's choice out at the plate, and a groundout. In the top of the 7th, back-to-back doubles from Cordelia Hanger and Alli VanLanker put MNU in front. The Pioneers rallied for 2 more to take a 5-2 lead, and Berlage finished the game for her second win of the day.

Game 2 Turning Point
The bases loaded no out escape in the 6th followed by back-to-back doubles in the 7th was the difference.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage pitched 5 relief innings for the win. And Cordelia Hanger (3-4, R, 2B, SB), Morgan Fouch (2-4, R, 2B), and Abby Schulte (1-4, 2 RBI) led the offense.

Up Next
The next double header is Saturday at #21 Central Methodist (15-5, 2-0) at 1:00/3:00.