Pioneers Swept by Huntington

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 2 – Huntington 9
Score 2: MNU 2 – Huntington 22
Score 3: MNU 1 - Huntington 14
Score 4: MNU 1 - Huntington 9
Records: MNU (2-6), Huntington (10-1)
Location: Shawnee, Kan. (Mid-America Sports Complex)

SHAWNEE, Kan. – MNU suffered a doubleheader sweep to Huntington on Thursday. The Pioneers were competitive early in Game 1 before a late surge separated the contest, while Game 2 turned into a difficult afternoon as Huntington capitalized on nearly every opportunity in a 22-2 blowout.

In Game 1, MNU struck first with a two-out rally in the third. Ronnie Rowley tripled to right-center to ignite the inning, Riggs Harper worked a walk and stole second, and Christian Ramos delivered with a two-run single to left to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.

Huntington answered in the fourth, using a hit batsman, a single, and a wild pitch to even the score before adding a go-ahead RBI single. The Foresters broke the game open in the fifth with a 2-run triple and an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 5-2. A 4-run seventh put the game out of reach.

Game 1 Turning Point
Huntington's 3-run fifth inning flipped a 2-2 game into a multi-run deficit and shifted momentum for good.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Jaymal Bonilla struck out 5 in 4.1 innings. And Ronnie Rowley (1-3, R, 3B, BB), Christian Ramos (1-3, 2 RBI), Kaden Owens (2-3), and Carter Manning (1-3, 2B) had MNU's 5 hits.

Game 2 proved more challenging as Huntington plated single runs in the 1st and added 2 more in the 2nd before erupting for 9 runs in the 3rd inning. The Foresters sent 14 hitters to the plate in the frame, collecting 7 hits and putting the game away early.

MNU broke through in the fourth when Riggs Harper singled and came around to score on Kaden Owens' RBI double to left-center. Noah Castillo followed with an RBI single, but Huntington continued to apply pressure with 2 more runs in the 5th and another in the 6th to account for the final margin.

Game 2 Turning Point
Huntington's 9-run 3rd inning essentially ended it.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Kaden Owens (2-3, R, 2B, RBI) and Noah Castillo (1-3, RBI) drove in MNU's 2 runs.

In Game 3, Huntington wasted little time seizing control, scoring 6 runs in the opening inning and never looking back in a 14-1 victory. The Pioneers managed a single run in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Foresters ran away with 3 in the 5th and 4 in the 7th.

Game 3 Turning Point
The 6-run first inning put MNU in a huge hole.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Aiden Kent and Axel De Jesus each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. And Ronnie Rowley (1-3), Christian Ramos (1-3), and Kaden Owens (1-3, R) had MNU's 3 hits.

In Game 4, MNU struck first but again could not contain Huntington's steady offensive pressure in a 9-1 defeat. The Pioneers scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, but were held off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Huntington scored single runs in the next 5 straight innings, then blew it open with a 4-run 7th to put it away.

Game 4 Turning Point
Huntington's run in the top of the 3rd proved to be the game winner.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Jackson Noland induced a double play from the only batter he faced. And Ronnie Rowley (1-3), Christian Ramon (1-2, BB), Kaden Owens (1-3), and Luke Nordeen (1-2) had MNU's 4 hits.

Up Next
The next series is a 4-game set at home vs. Doane on Friday/Saturday.