The Basics
Game 1 Score:Â MNU 1 - Mt. Mercy 0
Game 2 Score: MNU 9 - Mt. Mercy 12
Records: MNU (23-15, 13-9), MMU (26-13, 15-5)
Location:Â Williams Field | Olathe, Kan.
OLATHE, Kan. - The Pioneers split an interesting double header vs. Mt. Mercy on Saturday. In
Game 1, MNU faced one of the best pitchers in the country. But after the Pioneers escaped a bases loaded 1 out situation in the top of the 1st,
Cordelia Hanger led off the bottom with a bunt single and
Kelly Stoakes was hit by a pitch with 2 outs.
Abby Schulte's infield popup was dropped, and MNU took a 1-0 lead. Pioneer starting pitcher
Sarah Melodia escaped another jam in the 2nd, then cruised through the middle innings. In the top of the 7th with 2 outs, a hit batsman and a wild pitch put the tying run at 2nd. Melodia induced a comebacker and got the third out to secure the 1-0 victory.
Game 1 Turning Point
The dropped popup in the bottom of the 1st was the difference.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Sarah Melodia struck out 5 in a 5-hit complete game shutout. And
Cordelia Hanger (1-3, R),
Nyah Brown (1-3), and
Kelly Stoakes (1-2, HBP) got MNU's 3 hits.
In
Game 2, both offenses came to life. The Mustangs rallied for 2 in the 1st and 3 more in the 2nd to take a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 3rd, MNU made their comeback.
Rilee Slycord led off with the single and
Kaleigh Bayless followed with an RBI double.
Cordelia Hanger drove home Bayless, and 1 out later
Morgan Fouch's single made it 5-3.
Kelly Stoakes and
Abby Schulte singled to make it 5-4, and
Alli VanLanker gave the Pioneers the lead with a 2-run double. Slycord capped the 7-run inning with an RBI single, and MNU led 7-5. The Mustangs answered immediately with a 3-run 4th, but a
Kaleigh Bayless solo homer tied it at 8 in the bottom of the 4th. Mount Mercy scored 1 in the top of the 5th to take the lead, then extended the advantage with a 3-run 7th. Bayless homered with 2 outs in the bottom of the inning, but MMU won 12-9.
Game 2Â Turning Point
MMU's 3-run 7th put the game away.
Game 2Â Individual Leaders
Cordelia Hanger (2-5, R, RBI),
Kelly Stoakes (1-2, R, 2 BB),
Rilee Slycord (3-4, R, RBI), and
Kaleigh Bayless (4-4, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI) had big games at the plate.
Up Next
The next double header is Tuesday at Bellevue (28-9) at 2:00/4:00.
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