Pioneers Split With Baker to Close Season

The Basics
Score 1: MNU 7, Baker 2
Score 2: MNU 1, Baker 2
Records: MNU (28-20, 14-14), Baker (26-21, 14-14)
Location: Olathe, Kan. – Williams Field

OLATHE, Kan. – MNU needed a sweep to reach the conference tournament, but suffered a split vs. Baker to close the season on Saturday. Both teams ended 14-14 in conference play to tie for 8th, but Baker won the tie-breaker to advance to the tournament.

In Game 1, the Pioneers broke through in the 3rd inning and never relinquished control. Danica Hobbs set the tone with a 2-out double before Molly Nicas drove her in with an RBI single. Lailah Simmons followed with another RBI knock, and MNU added a third run on a Baker error to take a 3-0 lead.

Baker answered in the top of the 6th with a 2-run homer, but the Pioneers quickly responded in the bottom. Senne Imel and Andi Clements sparked the offense with back-to-back doubles, and Devyn Garber added an RBI single. MNU continued to string together quality at-bats, scoring 4 runs in the inning to extend the lead to 7-2 and put the game out of reach. 

In the circle, Brie Manwarren delivered a complete-game performance, allowing just 4 hits and no earned runs while striking out 4 to secure the win. 

Game 1 Turning Point
MNU's 3-run 3rd inning proved to be enough.

Game 1 Individual Leaders
Brie Manwarren earned the win with a complete-game effort, allowing no earned runs. She also scored a run, drove in a run, and walked twice. And Molly Nicas (3-4, R, 2 RBI), Senne Imel (1-2, R, 2B, BB), Andi Clements (1-3, R, 2B, RBI), and Devyn Garber (1-1, R, RBI) led the offense.

In Game 2, MNU struck first but couldn't sustain offensive momentum. The Pioneers opened the scoring in the 2nd inning when Aariana Paprocki drove in Senne Imel with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. 

Baker responded in the 5th inning to tie the game before taking the lead in the 6th on an RBI single. Six of the next 7 Pioneers were retired, and the Wildcats escaped with the victory.

Game 2 Turning Point
Baker's go-ahead run in the 6th inning proved decisive.

Game 2 Individual Leaders
Mandy Brown struck out 5 in a complete game loss. And Danica Hobbs (1-3), Molly Nicas (1-3), Senne Imel (1-3, R, 2B), Andi Clements (1-3), and Aariana Paprocki (1-3, RBI) had MNU's 5 hits.

Up Next
The next game is the 2027 opener.