Pioneers Split at Valley

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 6, Missouri Valley 7
Score 2: MNU 4, Missouri Valley 9
Score 3: MNU 6, Missouri Valley 4
Score 4: MNU 16, Missouri Valley 4
Records: MNU (8-14, 2-2), MVC (2-18, 2-2)
Location: Marshall, Mo. – Missouri Valley Field

MARSHALL, Mo. – MNU dropped the first two games of the series before responding with a comeback victory in Game 3 and a blowout in Game 4 at Missouri Valley.

In Game 1, MNU exploded out of the gates with a 4-run 1st inning. Ronnie Rowley singled and Riggs Harper doubled to set the table before Kaden Owens delivered an RBI single. Christian Ramos followed with a 3-run homer to give the Pioneers an early 4-0 lead.

Missouri Valley chipped away and eventually mounted a decisive rally in the 6th. After MNU built a 6-2 advantage behind RBI hits from Joey Lagina and Owens, the Vikings erupted for 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning. A pair of RBI singles, a bases-loaded walk, and a sacrifice fly allowed Missouri Valley to surge in front 7-6, and the Pioneers were unable to respond in the 7th.

Game 1 Turning Point
Missouri Valley's 5-run 6th inning erased a 4-run deficit and flipped the game late.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Preston Graber struck out 2 in 5 innings. Giancarlo Cortez struck out 1 in relief. And Ronnie Rowley (2-4, R, 2B), Riggs Harper (1-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB), Kaden Owens (2-2, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Christian Ramos (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB), and Joey Lagina (1-1, RBI) paced the offense.

In Game 2, Missouri Valley broke open a tight game with a massive 6-run 5th inning. The Pioneers initially seized momentum in the 3rd when Riggs Harper and Kaden Owens delivered back-to-back RBI doubles to cap a 3-run frame. Ronnie Rowley added a solo home run in the 4th to push the lead to 4-1.

The Vikings answered in the 5th with six runs, turning the deficit into a 7-4 lead. Missouri Valley added two more runs in the 6th and held the Pioneers scoreless the rest of the way to secure a 9-4 victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
Missouri Valley's 6-run 5th inning shifted control of the game.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Giancarlo Cortez struck out 1 in an inning of relief. And Ronnie Rowley (2-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, RBI), Riggs Harper (1-2, R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Kaden Owens (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Jeremy Morales (1-3, 2B, BB) led MNU's offense.

In Game 3, MNU bounced back with a comeback win. The Pioneers grabbed early runs in the 1st and 2nd innings, including an RBI single from Christopher Lugo, to take a 2-0 lead.

Missouri Valley responded with a 4-run 3rd inning highlighted by a grand slam to move ahead 4-2. MNU answered in the 5th when the offense erupted. Singles from Ryan Martinez, Ronnie Rowley, and Riggs Harper loaded the bases before Christian Ramos launched a grand slam that put the Pioneers back in front 6-4.

From there, the pitching staff took over. Jaymal Bonilla delivered 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out 4 and allowing just 2 hits to secure the victory.

Game 3 Turning Point
Christian Ramos' grand slam in the 5th inning swung the game back in MNU's favor.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Jaymal Bonilla earned the win with 4 strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings. Brailyn Cruz struck out 4 in 3.2 innings. And Riggs Harper (2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB), Christian Ramos (2-3, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Ronnie Rowley (1-4, R), Christopher Lugo (1-3, RBI), and Ryan Martinez (1-3, R) led the offense.

In Game 4, the Pioneer offense exploded for 16 runs while the pitching allowed just 2 hits in a blowout to even the series. MNU got started with a 5-run 3rd innings, highlighted by a Kaden Owens squeeze bunt and a Noah Castillo 3-run homer. Valley responded with their first hit in the bottom of the 4th, but it was efficient as a grand slam to get the Vikings back in the game. In the top of the 5th, a Luke Nordeen pinch hit 3-run homer was followed by a Ronnie Rowley solo shot to give MNU a 12-4 lead. Another Rowley homer capped a 4-run 6th, and the Pioneers won 16-4.

Game 4 Turning Point
Noah Castillo's 3-run homer in the 3rd proved to be enough.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Giancarlo Cortez struck out 7 in 2.2 innings of relief for the win. And Ronnie Rowley (4-5, 4 R, 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Riggs Harper (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB, HBP), Jeremy Moreles (1-4, 2 R, BB, 2 SB), Noah Castillo (3-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI), Christopher Lugo (2-5, 2 R, 2B), and Luke Nordean (1-1, R, HR, 3 RBI) had big games at the plate.

Up Next
The next game is a single 9-inning non-conference contest at home vs. St. Mary on Wednesday at 3:00.