The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 5 - Dillard 2
Game 2 Score: MNU 6 - LSU-Shreveport 4
Records: MNU (32-25)
Location: Pilot Field | Shreveport, La.
SHREVEPORT, La. - The 4-seed Pioneers beat 5-seed Dillard 5-2 in the play-in round, then upset 1-seeded and #2-ranked LSU-S in the nightcap in the Shreveport Bracket of the Opening Round on Monday. In
Game 1, Dillard rallied for 2 runs in the top of the 1st, but the MNU staff shut them down the rest of the way. MNU rallied for a run in the bottom of the 1st, and a 2-out RBI single from
Sean Maple tied the game in the 2nd.
Dionathan Cornet drilled a solo homer in the bottom of the 3rd, and the Pioneers took a 3-2 lead. Maple recorded another 2-out RBI with a double in the 4th for a 4-2 lead, and a
Joshua Martinez 2-out popup fell for an RBI single in the 7th to make it 5-2. In the top of the 9th, a single and 2 hit batsmen chased reliever
Bryce Brecklin and put the tying run on base with no outs.
Reece Helland entered and struck out the next 2 guys, and a groundout ended the threat and the game.
Game 1 Turning Point
Dionathan Cornet's solo shot in the 3rd put MNU ahead for good.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Noah Castillo earned his first win of the season with 5 innings of 4-hit ball.
Bryce Brecklin pitched 3 shutout innings.
Reece Helland struck out 2 in the 9th for the save. And
Sean Maple (3-4, R, 2 2B, SB, HBP),
Noah Castillo (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and
Dionathan Cornet (1-4, R, HR, RBI) led the offense.
In
Game 2, MNU jumped in front when
Sean Maple's leadoff flyball went unseen by the right fielder, resulting in a double.
Brycen Sherwood followed with a single, and
Javier Melendez walked to load the bases.
Noah Castillo and
Dionathan Cornet recorded back-to-back sacrifice flies, and MNU took a 2-0 lead. The Pilots responded with a run in the bottom of the 1st, and threatened again in the 2nd after 2 hit batsmen. But center fielder
Drew Woodley made a diving catch to end the 2nd, and starter
Zach Trevino shut them down for the next 5 innings.
Brycen Sherwood's solo homer to lead off the top of the 3rd made it 3-1...
Joshua Hinojos' RBI groundout in the 4th made it 4-1, and
Javier Melendez' RBI single in the 5th made it 5-1. In the bottom of the 8th, a leadoff single chased Trevino, and LSUS rallied for 2 runs to close the gap. MNU put 2 runners on in the top of the 9th before a more than 2 hour lightning delay paused the game. After the delay,
Noah Castillo's 2-out RBI single put the Pioneers back up by 3.
Reece Helland worked into and out of trouble in the bottom of the 9th, and MNU won 6-4.
Game 2 Turning Point
Drew Woodley's lead-saving catch in the 2nd led to 6 straight scoreless innings while MNU built the lead.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 6 in 7+ innings for the win.
Reece Helland struck out 2 in the 9th for the save. And
Brycen Sherwood (2-3, 3 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB, SB),
Noah Castillo (1-4, 2 RBI, SF),
Joey Calamaio (2-4, 2B), and
Joshua Hinojos (1-3, RBI, BB) led the offense.
Up Next
The Pioneers play 3-seed Morningside (37-16) Tuesday at 2:30. The winner advances to the championship round.
