Pioneers Drop 2 in Shawnee

The Basics
Game 1 Score: Oklahoma Wesleyan 4, MNU 1
Game 2 Score: Briar Cliff 6, MNU 5
Records: MNU (5-5), Oklahoma Wesleyan (12-3), Briar Cliff (7-7)
Location: Shawnee, Kan. – Mid-America Sports Complex

SHAWNEE, Kan. – MNU battled in both ends of a Thursday twin bill but came up short twice, falling 4-1 to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the opener before dropping a back-and-forth 6-5 decision to Briar Cliff in the nightcap.

In Game 1, MNU scattered seven hits but couldn't overcome a pair of home runs by Oklahoma Wesleyan in a 4-1 setback.

After two scoreless innings, Oklahoma Wesleyan broke through in the 3rd on a 2-run homer to right field, taking a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers broke through in the 6th. Lailah Simmons singled to start the inning and later scored on an RBI single to center from Senne Imel, trimming the deficit to 2-1. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Oklahoma Wesleyan answered in the bottom half with a 2-run homer to extend the lead to 4-1.

Game 1 Turning Point
OKWU's 2-run homer in the 3rd proved to be enough.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Mandy Brown struck out 7 in a complete game loss. And Lailah Simmons (2-3, R, 2B) had 2 hits.

Game 2 saw MNU's offense erupt for 11 hits, highlighted by a four-run 5th inning, but Briar Cliff came back late

Briar Cliff struck first in the 3rd, but MNU responded emphatically in the 5th. Dakoda Hobbs reached and advanced into scoring position before Danica Hobbs delivered an RBI single to tie the game. Brie Manwarren launched a two-run homer to left, giving the Pioneers a 3-1 lead. MNU added another run on an RBI single from Molly Nicas to cap a 4-run frame and build a 4-1 advantage.

The Chargers answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th, aided by walks and defensive miscues, to retake the lead at 5-4. An unearned run in the sixth extended the margin to 6-4.

MNU mounted one final push in the 7th. Lailah Simmons doubled to left and scored on Molly Nicas' RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-5, but the Pioneers were unable to bring the tying run across.

Game 2 Turning Point
Briar Cliff's 4-run 5th inning flipped a 4-1 MNU lead into a deficit.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Aly Turner struck out 5 in 5 innings. And Danica Hobbs (2-4, R, RBI, 2 SB), Brie Manwarren (2-3, R. 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Lailah Simmons (2-4, 2 R, 2B), Molly Nicas (2-4, 2 RBI), and Dakoda Hobbs (2-3, R) had 2 hits apiece.

Up Next
The next games are tomorrow in Shawnee vs. Waldorf and Hastings at 2:40/5:00.