The Basics
Score 1: MNU 11 – Clarke 1
Score 2: MNU 4 – Clarke 7
Records: MNU (6-12), Clarke (IA) (4-12)
Location: Shawnee, Kan. - Mid-America Sports Complex
SHAWNEE, Kan. – MNU split Saturday's doubleheader with Clarke, cruising to an 11-1 victory in the opener before falling 7-4 in the second game.
In Game 1, the Pioneers broke through early and then used a pair of explosive innings to pull away. Riggs Harper sparked the first-inning rally with a triple before Kaden Owens doubled him home to give MNU a 1-0 lead.
Preston Graber didn't allow a hit through 4 innings, but Clarke tied the game in the 5th. The Pioneers immediately responded with a decisive surge. In the bottom half of the inning, Christian Ramos delivered a two-run double, Noah Castillo added an RBI single, and Jeremy Morales capped the rally with an inside-the-park 2-run homer to push MNU ahead 6-1.
The Pioneers continued the offensive onslaught in the 6th inning. Ronnie Rowley singled home a run before Ramos struck again with a 3-run double. Castillo followed with another RBI single as MNU plated 5 more runs to secure the victory.
Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 5-run fifth inning flipped a 1-1 game into a commanding lead.
Game 1 Individual Leaders
Preston Graber struck out 7 in 4.2 innings. Jaymal Bonilla struck out 4 in 2.1 hitless innings of relief for the win. And Ronnie Rowley (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI), Riggs Harper (1-3, 2 R, 3B, BB), Kaden Owens (1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB), Christian Ramos (2-4, 2 2B, 5 RBI), Noah Castillo (3-4, R, 2 RBI), and Jeremy Morales (2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI) led the offense.
In Game 2, Clarke struck first and never relinquished control despite several Pioneer rallies. The visitors plated 3 runs in the opening inning and extended their lead to 5-1 in the 3rd.
MNU answered with a two-run rally in the third inning. Kaden Owens drove in a run on a sacrifice fly after Ronnie Rowley reached and advanced into scoring position, and Noah Castillo followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-3.
The Pioneers continued to chip away in the fourth when Rowley tripled to score Garrett Lester to pull MNU within one run at 5-4. However, Clarke added insurance runs in the 5th and 7th innings to hold off the comeback attempt.
Game 2 Turning Point
Clarke's 3-run first inning put MNU in an early hole.
Game 2 Individual Leaders
Axel De Jesus struck out 2 in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. And Ronnie Rowley (1-2, R, 3B, 2 BB, 2 SB) and Noah Castillo (3-4, 2 RBI) had big games at the plate.
Up Next
The next series is a 4-game set to start the conference schedule at Missouri Valley on Friday and Saturday at 1:00/3:30.
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