Pioneers Score 16 in Season Opening Win

The Basics
Score: MNU 16, Benedictine-Mesa 4
Record: MNU (1-0), BU-Mesa (0-1)
Location: Gene Autry Field - Mesa, Ariz.
 
Mesa, Ariz. - MNU blew out Benedictine-Mesa in the season opener on Thursday. Neither team scored in the first 3 innings, but the Pioneers broke through in the 4th. Back-to-back doubles from Javier Melendez and Kaden Owens scored the first run, and an RBI groundout made it 2-0. Back-to-back triples in the 5th from Drew Woodley and Christopher Lugo sparked a 4-run rally, and starting pitcher Luis Lopez allowed just 1 run in 5 innings with 7 strikeouts. The Pioneers blew it open with a 9-run 9th inning, capped by a Brentt Olmo 3-run triple and a Melendez 2-run homer, and cruised to a 16-4 final.
 
Turning Point
MNU's 4-run 6th gave MNU a lead they would not relinquish.
 
Individual Leaders
Luis Lopez struck out 7 in 5 innings for the win. And Brentt Olmo (3-5, 3 R, 3B, 5 RBI, SF), Javier Melendez (3-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, HBP), Kaden Owens (2-5, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI), Kristian Crespo (2-5, R, RBI), and Drew Woodley (2-3, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP) had multi-hit games.
 
Up Next
The next game is Friday in Mesa vs. Westcliff (2-0) at 3:00 central.