Olathe, KS – The MNU Pioneer Softball Team added their 9th and 10th wins of the season when they suited up against Grand View College from Iowa and Midland Lutheran College from Nebraska on a neutral field in Olathe. The wins take the Pioneers win streak to 9 in a row. In Game 1 Penny Eastman became 5-0 on the year as the Pioneers defeated GC 10-1. In Game 2 Jennifer Costa became 4-1 as the Pioneers defeated MLC 8-0.
Game 1- The first inning had everything but fireworks for the Pioneers. After Grand View was retired scoreless in the top of the 1st inning, MNU exploded with 7 runs in the bottom. Taylor Ryal (2) gave MNU a 4 run lead with a grand slam over the left field fence. Cait Gardner singled in Leslie Jones for run number 5 and Brianna Payne singled in Ashley Mayhle and Becca McCoy. Grand View would get their lone run in the 3rd with a couple of hits off of Eastman. MNU added 3 runs in the 4th started by back-to-back homers by Ashley Salter (1) and Jennifer Costa (1). Two batters later Leslie Jones (1) tacked on a solo shot of her own to seal the 10-1 game for the hot Pioneers. Eastman (5-0) got the win with a 5 inning complete game while surrendering 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 11. Leading the offense was Brianna Payne 3-4, Run, 2 RBI; Ryal 2-3, HR, 2B, Run, 4 RBI; Mayhle 2-3, Run; Gardner 2-3, RBI; and Homers added from L. Jones (1), Costa (5), and Salter (1).
Game 2- This game was touted a pitching duel as MNU 6-ft right hander Jennifer Costa was matched up against Midland Lutheran's 6-ft Kelly Sladek. In 2009 Sladek was the GPAC Pitcher of the year going 19-3 and earning NAIA All-American Awards. The bats came alive after a 2 inning power nap when MNU jumped on MLC 3-0 in the 3rd. With 2 outs and nobody on Emily True got hit by the pitch and stole second. Ashley Salter (2) then hit her 2nd homer of the day to make it 2-0. Costa doubled and Ryal singled her home to make the game 3-0. In the 4th Brianna Payne (1) added a run with her first homer of the season. The score stayed 4-0 until the bottom of the 6th when Salter singled home Payne and Ryal (3) hit a walk-off 3-run homer to win the game through the 8 run mercy rule. Jennifer Costa (3-1) cruised as she threw a 6 inning complete game no hitter while walking 1 and striking out 11. Leading the offense was Ryal 3-4, HR, Run, 4 RBI; B. Payne 2-4, HR, 2 Runs, RBI, SB; Salter 2-4, HR, 2 Runs, 3 RBI. True, Mayhle, and Costa all added a hit in the 8-0 victory.
“I was very pleased by the effort of my squad today,” says MNU Coach Babinski, “Any day where your offense can generate 7 home runs is exceptional. Our pitchers were electric and our defense was errorless. These are two very good ball clubs and they will not be easy wins tomorrow. We need to bring the same efficient urgency as we did today. We are not going to hit homers and throw no hitters every game so we'll have to put together another complete playing performance tomorrow and execute a championship game plan.”
MNU plays again at Lone Elm on Saturday March 6th against Grand View College at 12:00 pm and Midland Lutheran College at 2:00 pm. MNU is now 10-1 with a 9 game win streak.
