The Basics
Score 1: MNU 3, Park 2
Score 2: MNU 3 , Park 6
Score 3: MNU 20, Park 10
Score 4: MNU 7, Park 0
Records: MNU (24-25, 16-12), Park (18-30, 7-21)
Location: Parkville, Mo. – Comfort Field

PARKVILLE, Mo. – MNU took 3 out of 4 at Park over the weekend to secure a spot in the conference tournament.

In Game 1, MNU leaned on a standout performance on the mound to secure a 3-2 victory. The Pioneers struck first in the opening inning when Kaden Owens delivered an RBI single to plate Riggs Harper for an early 1-0 lead. Park responded with 2 runs in the bottom half, but MNU's Preston Graber settled in and kept the Pirates off the board the rest of the way.

The turning point came in the 5th inning, when MNU capitalized on a Park error. With two runners on, Riggs Harper reached on a dropped fly ball, allowing both Ronnie Rowley and Garrett Lester to score and flip a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

On the mound, Preston Graber delivered one of his best outings of the season, going 6.2 innings while allowing just 2 runs and striking out 10. Giancarlo Cortez closed the door in the 7th to secure the save.

Game 1 Turning Point
The 2-run 5th inning gave MNU the lead for good.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Preston Graber struck out 10 in 6.2 innings for the win. Giancarlo Cortez recorded the save. And Kaden Owens (1-3, RBI) and Garrett Lester (0-0, R, 3 BB, 2 SB) led the offense.

In Game 2, the Pioneers again showed early promise but were undone by a big inning from Park. Jeremy Morales put MNU on the board in the 2nd with an RBI single, but Park rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd. The Pioneers added single runs in the 3rd and 4th to stay within striking distance, but the Pirates held on to win 6-3.

Game 2 Turning Point
Park's 5-run 2nd inning created a deficit MNU could not recover from.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Brailyn Cruz struck out 6 in 4.1 innings. Axel De Jesus struck out 2 in 1.2 innings of relief. And Kaden Owens (1-3, R, HBP), Christian Ramos (1-3, RBI), and Jeremy Morales (1-3, RBI) had MNU's 3 hits.

In Game 3, MNU wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for 7 runs in the 1st inning. The rally was started by a leadoff triple from Ronnie Rowley, and a sacrifice fly from Noah Castillo put the Pioneers in front and cleared the bases with 2 outs. Kaden Owens walked, Christian Ramos singled, and Ryan Martinez walked to load the bases. Carter Manning drew a run-scoring walk, and Jeremy Morales followed with a 2-run single to make it 4-0. Another walk loaded the bases, and Rowley's 2nd triple of the inning (and 10th of the season) blew it open for a 7-0 lead.

The Pioneers continued to add on, scoring 1 in the 2nd and breaking things open again with a 4-run 4th inning. Martinez and Morales each delivered RBI singles, while another run scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 12-2.

Park answered with a big middle stretch, capitalizing on errors to cut the deficit to 12-9 after five innings. However, MNU delivered the decisive blow in the 6th, plating 8 runs behind RBI contributions from Riggs Harper, Castillo, Owens, Martinez, Manning, Morales, and Rowley to put the game out of reach at 20-9.

Game 3 Turning Point
MNU's 8-run 6th inning halted Park's momentum and turned a tight game into a runaway victory.

Game 3 Individual Leaders
Noah Castillo struck out 6 in 4.1 innings for the win. And Ronnie Rowley (3-5, 2 R, 2 3B, 4 RBI, BB), Noah Castillo (0-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 HBP, SF), Kaden Owens (2-3, 3 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Christian Ramos (2-5), Ryan Martinez (3-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB), Jeremy Morales (4-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB), and Garrett Lester (0-1, 2 R, 4 BB) had big games at the plate.

In Game 4, the Pioneers shifted from offense to dominance on the mound. After a scoreless start, MNU broke through in the 3rd inning when Ronnie Rowley tripled home Garrett Lester, and Riggs Harper followed with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0.

MNU added a run in the 4th on a wild pitch and continued to build the lead with a 2-run 6th inning. Carter Manning delivered an RBI single, and Jeremy Morales added a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 5-0.

The Pioneers capped the scoring in the 7th, as Kaden Owens ripped an RBI double and Christian Ramos added an RBI groundout to push the final margin to 7-0.

Meanwhile, Jaymal Bonilla set the tone with 6 shutout innings, allowing just 6 hits while striking out 7. Giancarlo Cortez closed the door with a scoreless 7th to secure the shutout.

Game 4 Turning Point
MNU's 2-run 3rd inning proved to be enough.

Game 4 Individual Leaders
Jaymal Bonilla earned the win with 6 shutout innings and 7 strikeouts. Giancarlo Cortez struck out 2 in a clean inning of relief. And Ronnie Rowley (1-4, R, 3B, RBI), Noah Castillo (2-4), Kaden Owens (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), Christian Ramos (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB), Ryan Martinez (2-3, HBP), and Garrett Lester (0-1, R, 2 BB) paced the lineup.

Series Notes
Garrett Lester drew 10 walks
Ronnie Rowley recorded 3 triples on Saturday, including 2 in one inning
Riggs Harper drew 5 walks, pushing his season total to 42 - an MNU record

Up Next
The 8-team double elimination conference tournament begins next week in Ozark, Mo.