Pioneers Split Series at Penn

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 11 - William Penn 3
Score 2: MNU 6 - William Penn 4
Score 3: MNU 1 - William Penn 10
Score 4: MNU 2 - William Penn 4
Records: MNU (26-11, 19-5), WPU (16-19, 8-12)
Location: Statesman Field | Oskaloosa, Iowa

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - The Pioneers ran away with Game 1 and took Game 2 late in Friday's sweep at William Penn, but the Statesmen returned the favor with a sweep on Saturday. In Game 1, MNU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st when Brentt Olmo walked and Drew Woodley doubled. Brycen Sherwood followed with a 2-run single and eventually scored on a groundout, but the Statesmen answered right back with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. Both teams scored 1 in the 3rd, and MNU took the lead in the 4th on a Woodley sacrifice fly. In the top of the 6th, Olmo's 2-run homer put MNU up 7-3, and Dionathan Cornet blew it open with a 2-out 3-run shot for an 11-3 victory.

Game 1 Turning Point
Drew Woodley's sac fly in the 4th was the game winner.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Zach Trevino struck out 4 in a complete game victory. And Brentt Olmo (1-2, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HBP), Drew Woodley (2-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, SF), Brycen Sherwood (2-4, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SB), Kaden Owens (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, SF), Dionathan Cornet (1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI), Kristian Crespo (2-4, 2B), and Sean Maple (1-3, R, 2B, BB) had big games at the plate.

In Game 2, Penn scored 2 in the bottom of the 1st, but the Pioneers rallied for 3 in the top of the 2nd. Noah Castillo led off with a massive solo homer, and RBI singles from Drew Woodley and Sean Maple put MNU up 3-2. WPU tied it in the bottom of the 2nd, and the pitchers kept the teams off the scoreboard for the next few innings. In the bottom of the 5th, Penn loaded the bases with no outs, and an RBI single put them up 4-3. Logan Burbach took the mound and escaped with a popout and two strikeouts, and Kaden Owens tied it with a solo shot in the top of the 6th. With 2 outs in the top of the 7th, Drew Woodley was hit by a hit and Brycen Sherwood followed with a 2-run homer. Burbach continued to dominate in the 6th and 7th, and MNU won 6-4.

Game 2 Turning Point
Logan Burbach's bases loaded escape kept MNU in the game.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Adam Gray struck out 5 in 4 innings. Logan Burbach struck out 6 in 3 scoreless innings for the win. And Brycen Sherwood (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI), Noah Castillo (2-4, R, HR, RBI), Kaden Owens (1-3, 2 R, HR, RBI), and Willy Borquez (2-2, 2B, BB) led the offense.

In Game 3, the Statesmen scored 1 in the 1st and put the game away early with a 6-run 2nd en route to a 10-1 victory.

Game 3 Turning Point
Penn's 6-run 2nd inning put MNU in a big early hole.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Brentt Olmo (2-4, 2 2B), Noah Castillo (2-3, 2B), and Sean Maple (1-2, BB, RBI) reached base twice.

In Game 4, a Noah Castillo sacrifice fly in the 1st and a Sean Maple solo homer in the 2nd put the Pioneers up 2-0. But MNU wouldn't score again. Penn got a run in the 4th, then rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 5th to take the lead. The next 6 Pioneers were retired in order, and the Statesmen won 4-2 to split the series.

Game 4 Turning Point
Penn's 3-run 5th turned a deficit into a lead.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Jackson Noland allowed just 1 unearned run in 3.1 innings. Reece Helland struck out 2 in 1.2 innings of relief. And Brentt Olmo (2-3, R), Noah Castillo (1-2, RBI, SF), and Sean Maple (1-2, R, HR, RBI) got MNU's 4 hits.

Up Next
The next series is a non-conference 3-game series at #18 Mid-America Christian. A double header on Friday starting at 1:00, and a single 9-inning game on Saturday starting at 12:00.