The Basics
Score 1: MNU 2 - CMU 21
Score 2: MNU 4 - CMU 3
Score 3: MNU 10 - CMU 1
Score 4: MNU 9 - CMU 5
Records: MNU (7-4, 3-1), CMU (7-7, 1-3)
Location: Mid-America Sports Complex | Shawnee, Kan.
SHAWNEE, Kan. – No. 25 MidAmerica Nazarene overcame a tough series opener to win three straight games against No. 14 Central Methodist, securing a 3-1 series victory in conference play. Game 1 was a rough one for the Pioneers, as CMU erupted for six runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 21-2 rout. CMU's offense scored in five different innings and racked up 18 hits. MNU's lone offensive bright spot was Kaden Owens, who homered twice—once in the fourth and again in the sixth—to account for both of the Pioneers' runs.
Game 1 Turning Point
CMU's six-run first inning put MNU in an early hole they couldn't escape.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Kaden Owens (2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and Kristian Crespo (2-3) had 2 hits apiece.
In Game 2, the Pioneers rebounded in dramatic fashion, securing a 4-3 walk-off victory in eight innings. MNU trailed 2-1 in the fifth before Brentt Olmo launched a go-ahead two-run homer. CMU tied it in the sixth on an unearned run, and the game remained deadlocked into extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Sean Maple doubled and Jon Merfen pinch-ran, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Christopher Lugo then delivered a walk-off single to seal the thrilling win. On the mound, Adam Gray dominated, striking out 10 over 5.2 innings, while Giancarlo Cortez struck out 3 in 2.1 scoreless innings in relief for the win.
Game 2 Turning Point
Lugo's walk-off single in the eighth gave MNU the win.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Adam Gray struck out 10 in 5.2Â innings. Giancarlo Cortez picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. And Brentt Olmo (2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI), Sean Maple (2-4, 2B, RBI), and Riggs Harper (1-2, R, BB) led the offense.
Game 3 was all Pioneers, as MNU rolled to a 10-1 win behind Kaden Owens' grand slam and dominant pitching. MNU took a 2-1 lead in the third, then broke the game open with a 5-run fifth, highlighted by Owens' bases-clearing blast. The Pioneers added three more in the sixth, with a 2-run double from Riggs Harper, to put it away.
On the mound, Owen Chaffin was sharp, allowing just one unearned run over four innings, and Bryce Brecklin closed it out with three scoreless frames.
Game 3 Turning Point
Owens' grand slam in the fifth turned a tight game into a rout.
Game 3 Individual Leaders
Owen Chaffin allowed 1 unearned run in 4.0 innings for the win. Bryce Brecklin earned a 3-inning save. And Brentt Olmo (2-4, R, RBI, BB), Javier Melendez (2-2, 3 R, BB, HBP), Kaden Owens (1-2, R, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Christopher Lugo (2-4, 2 R, 2B), Kristian Crespo (2-3, RBI, BB), and Riggs Harper (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, HBP) had big games at the plate.
MNU capped the series with a 9-5 victory in Game 4, using a three-run sixth inning to pull away. CMU built an early 4-0 lead in the second, but Willy Borquez homered to get MNU on the board. An RBI double from Drew Woodley and an RBI single from Javier Melendez put MNU in front in the 4th, but CMU tied it in the top of the 5th. A wild pitch put MNU back in front in the bottom of the 5th, and a 2-run double from Sean Maple followed by a Brysen Hamilton RBI single put MNU up 9-5. The bullpen did its job again, with Reece Helland tossing three shutout innings for the win.
Game 4 Turning Point
Maple's two-run double in the sixth gave MNU breathing room.
Game 4 Individual Leaders
Reece Helland struck out 3 in 3 innings of relief for the win. And Javier Melendez (3-3, RBI, HBP), Willy Borquez (2-3, 3 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Sean Maple (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, HBP), and Brysen Hamilton (1-2, 2 RBI, BB) led the offense.
Up Next
The next game is a single 9 at Columbia (9-3) on Tuesday at noon.
