The Basics
Score 1: MNU 12 - Central Methodist 10
Score 2: MNU 3 - Central Methodist 8
Score 3: MNU 4 - Central Methodist 5
Score 4: MNU 10 - Central Methodist 9
Records: MNU (24-9, 17-3), CMU (27-6, 13-3)
Location: Estes Field | Fayette, Mo.
OLATHE, Kan. - The Pioneers split a dramatic 4-game series at #6 Central Methodist on Friday & Saturday. In
Game 1 on Friday, with the wind blowing out hard, the teams combined for 8 homers in a back and forth contest. CMU scored 2 two-out runs in the bottom of the 1st to take the lead, but
Dionathan Cornet drilled a 3-run homer in the top of the 3rd to put MNU in front. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Eagles again scored 2 two-out runs to take a 4-3 lead, but the Pioneers had a big top of the 4th.
Drew Woodley and
Willy Borquez started the inning with back-to-back solo shots for a Pioneer lead, and
Javier Melendez followed with a 3-run shot for an 8-4 advantage. CMU again found two-out magic with a 2-run homer to tie the game after a rally, and the Eagles scored single runs in the 5th and 6th to take a 10-8 lead. Cornet homered to lead off the top of the 7th, and a Josh Martinez pinch hit RBI single tied the game.
Reece Helland entered the game and pitched a scoreless 7th to send the game to extras, and a
Drew Woodley 2-out 2-run homer put MNU in front. In the bottom of the 8th, a single and a double play put MNU on the brink of victory, but two straight singles and a hit batsman put CMU on the same brink. A full count groundout ended the threat, and the Pioneers took Game 1.
Game 1 Turning Point
Drew Woodley's 2-run homer in the top of the 8th was the game winner.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Reece Helland pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief for the win. And
Brycen Sherwood (1-2, R, 2B, 3 BB),
Javier Melendez (2-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB),
Dionathan Cornet (2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB),
Kaden Owens (2-5, 2B),
Drew Woodley (3-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI), and
Willy Borquez (2-4, R, HR, RBI, BB) led the offense.
In
Game 2, MNU's 16-game win streak was snapped in an 8-3 loss.
Kaden Owens and
Willy Borquez homered for an early 2-1 lead, but the Eagles rallied for 3 in the 4th and 3 in the 6th to extend the lead. The Pioneers managed just 1 more run on a
Brentt Olmo RBI single, and CMU won by 5.
Game 2 Turning Point
CMU's 3-run homer in the 4th put the Eagles up for good.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Adam Gray struck out 7 in the loss. And
Kaden Owens (1-2, 2 R, HR, RBI) and
Willy Borquez (1-3, R, HR, RBI) led the offense.
In
Game 3, the teams traded single runs in the early innings until the Eagles rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 4th for a 5-2 lead. In the top of the 6th,
Brentt Olmo and
Brycen Sherwood hit back-to-back solo homers to close the gap, and MNU threatened again in the 7th. Trailing 5-4,
Drew Woodley was on 3rd base with 2 outs, and pinch hitter
Joshua Martinez hit a slicing line drive down the towards the left field line. The CMU left fielder made a spectacular backhanded diving play, and the Eagles held on to win 5-4.
Game 3 Turning Point
CMU's great catch in the 7th preserved their lead.
Game 3 Individual Leaders
Brentt Olmo (2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI),
Brycen Sherwood (1-3, R, HR, RBI),
Kaden Owens (1-2, RBI, BB), and
Willy Borquez (2-3, R) led the offense.
In
Game 4, the teams traded punches in an epic back-and-forth contest, and the Pioneers came away with a late win to split the series. Both teams scored 1 in the 1st, and MNU loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the 2nd. Back-to-back strikeouts changed the momentum, but
Noah Castillo came up clutch with a 2-run single to make it 3-1. The Eagles answered with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd, but another 2-out 2-run hit - this time from
Kristian Crespo - put the Pioneers back in front 5-4 in the 3rd. A balk tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd, and neither squad found a run in the 4th. In the top of the 5th, MNU rallied for 3 runs on RBIs from
Willy Borquez,
Brentt Olmo, and
Javier Melendez for an 8-5 lead, but the Eagles fought back again. A single run in the 5th was followed by a 3-run 6th to give CMU a 9-8 lead heading to the 7th, and the Pioneers were in danger of dropping their third straight game. Two quick outs in the top of the 7th put CMU on the verge, but
Javier Melendez was hit by a pitch to keep the game alive.
Noah Castillo shrugged off a frustrating series with a 2-run game-altering blast, and the Pioneers took a 10-9 lead. Reliever
Reece Helland still needed to stop the heart of CMU's order in the 7th, and 3 straight ground outs put the game away and salvaged a split.
Game 4 Turning Point
Noah Castillo's 2-out 2-run homer in the 7th turned a deficit into a lead.
Game 4 Individual Leaders
Reece Helland picked up the win by retiring all 4 batters he faced. And
Brentt Olmo (2-4, R, SF),
Javier Melendez (2-4, RBI, HBP),
Noah Castillo (2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB),
Dionathan Cornet (3-5, RBI),
Kaden Owens (2-4, R, 2 2B, BB),
Willy Borquez (2-4, 2 R, RBI),
Drew Woodley (2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB), and
Kristian Crespo (1-1, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, Sac) had big games at the plate.
Up Next
The next double header is Friday at William Penn (14-17, 6-10) at 1:00/3:30.
