Pioneers Sweep Vikings

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 13 - Missouri Valley 1 (5 inn)
Game 2 Score: MNU 12 - Missouri Valley 7
Records: MNU (20-14, 10-8), MVC (20-16, 9-7)
Location: Marshall, Mo.

MARSHALL, Mo. - The Pioneers swept Missouri Valley on the road on Saturday. In Game 1, Missouri Valley committed 9 errors before the 2nd inning ended, and MNU led 13-0. Valley scored 1 in the 2nd, but that was all they could manage and the Pioneers won 13-1 in 5 innings.

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 3 runs in the 1st inning were enough.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Sarah Melodia allowed just 3 hits in a 5-inning complete game. And Cordelia Hanger (2-3, 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB), Nyah Brown (1-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI), Morgan Fouch (2-4, 2 R, RBI), Kelly Stoakes (1-2, 2 R, RBI, HBP), and Kaleigh Bayless (2-2, 2 R, 2B, BB) led the offense.

In Game 2, MNU scored in the top of the 1st, but Valley scored 2 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd to take a 5-1 lead. The Pioneers rallied for 3 in the 3rd to get back in the game, then blew it open in the 5th. Nyah Brown led off with a single, and Kelly Stoakes doubled her to 3rd one out later. Abby Schulte singled to load the bases, and back-to-back RBI singles from Londin Fiorella and Alli VanLanker put MNU up 6-5. With 2 outs, Kaleigh Bayless delivered the deciding blow with a grand slam, and MNU led 10-5. An Abby Schulte 2-run double extended the lead in the 6th, and MNU won 12-7.

Game 2 Turning Point
Kaleigh Bayless's grand slam put the game out of reach.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Hannah Etzel pitched 5.2 innings of relief for the win. And Cordelia Hanger (2-5, R, SB), Morgan Fouch (2-4, 2 R, 2B), Kelly Stoakes (2-3, 3 R, 2B, RBI, HBP), Abby Shulte (3-4, R, 2B, 3 RBI), Londin Fiorella (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI), and Kaleigh Bayless (2-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI) had multi-hit games.

Up Next
The next double header is Friday at home vs. Clarke (11-20, 4-10) at 3:00/5:00.