Pioneers Fall in First Round

The Basics
Score: MNU 8 - Grand View 13
Records: MNU (29-22), GVU (31-15)
Location: Busse Field | Cedar Rapids, Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The 4-seed Pioneers lost the opening game of the Heart Conference Tournament to 5-seed Grand View on Thursday. MNU took the lead in the bottom of the 1st when Cordelia Hanger singled, stole second, and scored on a Kelly Stoakes sacrifice fly. Grand View took the lead in the top of the 2nd on a 2-run error with 2 outs, then made it 4-1 with 2 runs in the top of the 4th. MNU came back in the bottom of the 4th, when 3 straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Dez Duncan drove home 2 with a single, and Robin Todd followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 4. With 2 outs, Maddie Brooks gave MNU a 6-4 lead with a 2-run single, but Grand View scored in bunches in the late innings. In the top of the 5th, the Vikings rallied for 5 runs to take a 9-6 lead, and put up 4 more in the 6th to blow it open. MNU got within shouting distance with 2 in the bottom of the 6th - and put a couple runners on in the 7th - but the Vikings held on to win 13-8.

Turning Point
Grand View's 5-run 5th put them up for good.

Individual Leaders
Cordelia Hanger (2-4, 2 R, 3B, RBI, SB), Maddie Brooks (3-4, 2 RBI), Kelly Stoakes (1-2, R, RBI, BB, SF), Dez Duncan (1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB), and Robin Todd (2-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB) led the offense.

Up Next
The Pioneers face 8-seed Graceland on Friday at 2:30 in an elimination game.