The Basics
Score: MNU 2, Mount Mercy 4
Record: MNU (26-27), Mount Mercy (37-13)
Location: Ozark Mountain Sports Complex – Ozark, Mo.
OZARK, Mo. – Photos | MNU held an early edge and got another strong showing on the mound, but a late-game swing in momentum proved costly as the Pioneers fell 4-2 to Mount Mercy in Heart Conference Tournament elimination play.
MNU struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on early traffic. After putting runners aboard, Kaden Owens delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Ronnie Rowley and give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs tied it in the 3rd, but MNU grabbed the lead back in the 4th when Christian Ramos crushed a solo home run to left field.
On the mound, Preston Graber set the tone early, working 4 solid innings while allowing just 1 run and keeping Mount Mercy's offense largely in check. The bullpen followed with competitive outings, as Jaymal Bonilla and Giancarlo Cortez combined to limit damage and keep the game within reach.
But the turning point came in the 7th inning. Mount Mercy used a leadoff walk and a 1-out double to even the score, then took advantage of a Pioneer miscue to take the lead. The runner at 2nd was picked off, but the throw to 3rd got away, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Mount Mercy added an insurance run in the 8th on a sacrifice fly, extending the margin to 4-2.
MNU had opportunities late but couldn't break through against Mount Mercy's bullpen. After being held hitless from the 5th through the 8th innings, the Pioneers put a runner aboard in the 9th, but the rally stalled, sealing the elimination-game loss.
Turning Point
Mount Mercy's 2-run 7th inning flipped a one-run deficit into a lead they would not relinquish.
Individual Leaders
Preston Graber struck out 2 in 4 innings. Jaymal Bonilla struck out 3 in 2.1 innings of relief. Giancarlo Cortez struck out 3 in 2.2 innings of relief. And Ronnie Rowley (1-3, R, BB), Noah Castillo (1-4), Kaden Owens (1-4, RBI), Christian Ramos (1-4, R, HR, RBI), and Ryan Martinez (1-3, SB, HBP) had MNU's 5 hits.
All Tournament Team
Christian Ramos - catcher (4 games, .294 avg, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBIs)
Ryan Martinez - second base (4 games, .471 avg, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 steals)
Ronnie Rowley - extra infielder (4 games, .500 avg, 4 runs, 2 triples, 1 homer, 3 RBIs)
Season Notes
- Noah Castillo wraps his career as the all-time MNU hits leader with 261 (Brycen Sherwood '24 - 259) and as the 4-year RBI leader with 217 (Joshuan Sandoval had 222 in 4+ seasons, including 26 in 2020). He is 2nd all time with 43 career home runs.
- Ronnie Rowley recorded the highest single-season OPS (1.361), highest single-season OBP (.530), most single-season triples (13), and second highest single-season SLG% (.831) in program history.
- Kaden Owens finishes a 3-year career with the second highest career OPS (1.104), second highest career SLG% (.667), third most career RBIs (170), fourth most career home runs (38), fourth most career doubles (46), and sixth most career walks (71) in program history.
- Riggs Harper broke the single-season walks record with 45 (Brentt Olmo - 39 in 2024).
- Harper (45), Rowley (32), Owens (32), and Garrett Lester (31) became the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Pioneers to record at least 30 walks in a season.
Up Next
The next game is the 2027 season opener.
