Pioneers Split with Tabor

The Basics
Game 1 Score: MNU 3 - Tabor 5
Game 2 Score: MNU 14 - Tabor 6 (6 inn)
Records: MNU (7-4), TC (3-3)
Location: Williams Field | Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. - The Pioneers split a double header with Tabor on Tuesday. In Game 1, MNU scored in the bottom of the 1st on a Robin Todd 2-out RBI single, and starter Mykala Johnico held Tabor scoreless into the 7th. In the bottom of the 5th, Kelly Stoakes homered to put MNU up 3-0, but Tabor mounted a comeback in the 7th. An infield single, a walk, a groundout, an error, and a strikeout put the tying run on base with 2 outs. Tabor stunned the Pioneers with back-to-back homers, and suddenly the Blue Jays led 5-3. MNU went 1-2-3 in their half of the 7th, and Tabor took Game 1.

Game 1 Turning Point
Tabor's 2-out 3-run homer in the 7th turned the game around.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Mykala Johnico struck out 7 and allowed 1 earned run in the loss. And Kelly Stoakes (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI), Robin Todd (1-3, RBI), and Alli VanLanker (2-3) led the offense.

In Game 2, the wind shifted and blew straight out, and 20 runs were scored in 6 innings. Both teams scored 2 in the 1st and 1 in the 2nd, but the Pioneers pulled away with a 3-run 3rd. Alli VanLanker had a solo homer in the 4th and a 3-run triple in the 5th, and the defense held Tabor relatively in check for a 14-6 mercy rule 6-inning victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
MNU's 3-run 3rd put them ahead for good.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Grace Berlage pitched 1.2 innings of hitless relief. And Cordelia Hanger (4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB), Nyah Brown (3-5, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI), Kelly Stoakes (4-5, R, RBI), and Alli VanLanker (2-3, 2 R, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, BB), had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next games are at the Friends tourney in Wichita on Friday and Saturday. MNU plays Friends and Hastings on Friday, and Sterling and Avila on Saturday.