Pioneers Lose Late in First Round

The Basics
Score: MNU 5 - Baker 8
Records: MNU (26-24), BU (28-21)
Location: US Ballpark | Ozark, Mo.

OZARK, Mo. - The Pioneers led late, but Baker made a big comeback in the 8th to win 8-5 in the first round of the conference tournament on Friday. MNU scored 1 in the bottom of the 1st to take the lead, but Baker rallied for 2 in the top of the 3rd. MNU starter Tyler Frieders retired the next 10 batters in the row, and the Pioneers ralied for 3 in the bottom of the 5th to re-take a 4-2 lead. The Wildcats got 1 back in the 7th, then came all the way back in the 8th. Two hit batsmen and a groundout put 2 runners on 1 out. A close play at first on a potential double play kept the inning alive, and MNU struggled to find the last out. Two errors, two doubles, and a single brought home 5 runs, and Baker held on to win 8-5.

Turning Point
The 5-run 8th inning turned the game around.

Individual Leaders
Frieders struck out 3 in 7.2 innings in the loss. Kristian Hurtado pitched 1.1 innings of hitless relief. And Javier Melendez (2-5, R, 2 RBI), Noah Castillo (2-5, 2 2B, RBI), Dionathan Cornet (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and Joshua Martinez (1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, HBP) led the offense.

Up Next
The next game is an elimination game in Ozark, Mo. vs. Benedictine (18-28) on Friday at 1:30. Benedictine swept MNU in the regular season's final series.