Pioneers Sweep Slugfest from Valley

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 17 - Missouri Valley 6
Score 2: MNU 22 - Missouri Valley 15
Score 3: MNU 15 - Missouri Valley 9
Score 4: MNU 8 - Missouri Valley 7 (8 inn)
Records: MNU (20-8, 13-3), MVC (10-19, 5-11)
Location: Dixon Stadium at Robbie Jones Field | Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. – MNU swept a 4-game series from Missouri Valley over the weekend. In Game 1, MNU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a Drew Woodley RBI triple and Kaden Owens sacrifice fly. Valley responded with a 4-run 3rd, but the Pioneers answered right back with a Javy Melendez 2-run homer, Willy Borquez RBI single, and Brysen Hamilton sacrifice fly to re-take the lead. Melendez hit another homer in the 5th, and launched his third in the bottom of the 6th to lead MNU to a 17-6 victory.

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 4-run 3rd gave them the lead for good.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Luis Lopez struck out 6 in a complete game victory. And Brentt Olmo (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Drew Woodley (2-4, 4 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, HBP), Javier Melendez (3-4, 3 R, 3 HR, 6 RBI, BB), Kaden Owens (3-4, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Willy Borquez (3-5, R, RBI), Sean Maple (3-4, 2 R, 2B, SB, HBP), and Kristian Crespo (1-1, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 2 HBP). had big games at the plate.

In Game 2, MNU rallied for 7 in the bottom of the 2nd, but Valley responded with 4 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th to tie it. The Pioneers put up 4 more in the bottom of the 4th - highlighted by a 3-run homer from Kaden Owens - to take the lead again. Another 4-run inning in the 5th put MNU up by 8, but no lead was comfortable in the howling winds. Valley managed 4 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th, but the Pioneers had blown it wide open with a 7-run 6th, highlighted by a Riggs Harper grand slam, to account for a 22-15 victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
Riggs Harper's grand slam put MNU up by 11.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Brentt Olmo (4-5, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB), Drew Woodley (3-4, 4 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB, HBP), Javier Melendez (1-2, 4 R, RBI, BB, 2 HBP), Kaden Owens (3-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI, BB), Willy Borquez (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP), Sean Maple (1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP), and Riggs Harper (2-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 SB) led the offense.

In Game 3. MNU jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 2 innings, thanks to homers from Christpoher Lugo and Drew Woodley, but Valley rallied for 3 in the 3rd and 4 in the 4th to take the lead. In the bottom of the 4th with 2 outs, Sean Maple's RBI double tied it and Christopher Lugo's RBI single game MNU an 8-7 lead. A Brentt Olmo homer extended the lead in the 5th, but Valley tied it in the top of the 6th. In the bottom of the 6th, the Pioneers blew it open with a Drew Woodley 3-run homer, and held on to win 15-9.

Game 3 Turning Point
MNU's 6-run rally in the 6th gave them the lead for good.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Logan Burbach and Bryce Brecklin combined for 6 strikeouts in the win. And Brentt Olmo (1-4, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB, SB), Drew Woodley (3-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Kaden Owens (4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI), Willy Borquez (2-4, R), Christopher Lugo (3-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, SB), and Riggs Harper (2-3, R, 2B, BB) led the offense.

Game 4 saw five lead changes, and the game was tied at 7 in the 5th inning. Six straight scoreless half innings sent the game to extra innings, and Kaden Owens finally ended it with a walkoff solo shot in the bottom of the 8th to complete the sweep.

Game 4 Turning Point
Kaden Owens' walkoff ended it.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Preston Graber retired 10 straight batters from the end of the 5th through the top of the 8th for the win. And Brentt Olmo (1-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB), Drew Woodley (2-4, RBI, SB), Kaden Owens (2-4, R, HR, RBI), Willy Borquez (2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Christopher Lugo (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI), and Riggs Harper (1-2, R, BB, 2 SB) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next game is a single non conference 9-inning contest at Columbia (26-5) on Tuesday at 3:00.