Pioneers Sweep Clarke

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 9 - Clarke 1 (6 inn)
Game 2 Score: MNU 12 - Clarke 5
Records: MNU (22-14, 12-8), CU (20-16, 9-7)
Location: Williams Field | Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. - The Pioneers swept Clarke on Friday. In Game 1, both teams scored 1 in the 1st inning, but MNU took the lead with another run in the 2nd. The Pioneers created some separation in the bottom of the 3rd when Cordelia Hanger, Nyah Brown, Morgan Fouch, and Kelly Stoakes recorded 4 straight singles to bring home 2, and Alli VanLanker singled with 2 outs for a 5-1 lead. RBIs from Fouch and Stoakes in the 4th made it 7-1, and RBIs from Londin Fiorella and Rilee Slycord in the 6th pushed the lead to 9-1 and a mercy rule victory.

Game 1 Turning Point
A Rilee Slycord RBI groundout in the bottom of the 2nd proved to be the game winner.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage struck out 3 in a 6-inning complete game victory. And Cordelia Hanger (2-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SB), Morgan Fouch (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI), Kelly Stoakes (2-3, R, 2 RBI, SF), Abby Schulte (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and Londin Fiorella (2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB) had 2 hits apiece.

In Game 2, Clarke rallied for a run in the top of the 1st, but the Pioneers scored 4 in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-run lead. A big 2-out 2-run single in the top of the 2nd tied the game at 4, but MNU rallied for 2 in the bottom to take the lead again. Clarke cut the deficit in half with a run in the 4th, but MNU ran away in the late innings. Kaleigh Bayless had an RBI double and Brooklyn Newberry followed with an RBI single to take a 3-run lead in the 5th, and a Rilee Slycord grand slam put the game away in the 6th.

🥎 Rilee Slycord puts the finishing touches on Game 2! #FearTheNeer pic.twitter.com/veW1aDygO8

— MNU Sports (@mnusports) April 22, 2023

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 2 runs in the 2nd put them up for good.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Sarah Melodia struck out 4 in 5 innings for the win. Hannah Etzel picked up the save. And Brooklyn Newberry (3-4, R, RBI), Nyah Brown (2-4, R, 2B, Sac), Kelly Stoakes (3-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI), Abby Schulte (2-4, R), Alli VanLanker (1-2, 2 R, 2B, BB, HBP), Rilee Slycord (1-4, R, HR, 4 RBI), and Kaleigh Bayless (2-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB) led the offense.

Up Next
The next double header is Saturday at home vs. Mt. Mercy (25-12, 14-4) at 1:00/3:00.