OLATHE, Kan. – After reaching the 2021 NAIA Baseball World Series Opening round last season, The RV Olivet Nazarene University baseball team opened the 2022 campaign with an early season test on the road at No. 22 MidAmerica Nazarene University on Thursday and Friday.  The Pioneers took three out of the four games. 

Game One: No. 22 MNU 2, RV ONU 1

The Tigers turned to Nolan Belschner in their season opener and found themselves in a pitcher duel throughout the game.  After a scoreless first inning, Tyler Wheeler gave the Tigers the lead after hitting a home run to centerfield making the score, 1-0.  The game remained 1-0 until the sixth inning when the Pioneers took the lead on an RBI double and an RBI groundout. 

Kai Hudson, Jacob Bulthuis, Wheeler, and Ryan Russman each notched a hit in the game and Belschner threw five shutout innings and struck out five batters for the Tigers but ultimately fell in game one, 2-1. 

Game Two: No. 22 MNU 9, RV ONU 5

ONU did not waste anytime opening the scoring as they jumped on the board in the top of the first inning.  After two straight outs, Donovan Yelle walked and Bulthuis and Wheeler were hit by the pitch, to load the bases. Russman then plated two runs on a single to centerfield as the Tigers took an early 2-0 lead.  The Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the first with a pair of RBI singles.  Jordan Almodover then gave the Tigers back the lead in the top of the next frame with a homer to right field.  The Pioneers then tied the game in second with an RBI double. 

The Tigers looked in the third inning to take the lead again.  With one out, Bulthuis picked up his second double on the day. Wheeler then continued his stellar day, driving in Bulthuis with an RBI single making the score, 4-3.  The Pioneers then tied the game again in the bottom of the inning with a homer.  Then, MidAmerica Nazarene opened up the scoring in the next couple innings as they notched three runs in the fourth and two runs in the sixth.  They led 9-4.   

Michael Cipoletti plated a run in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single, but that provided too little too late as the Tigers dropped game two, 9-5. 

Game Three: RV ONU 12, No. 22 MNU 7

The Tigers jumped on Pioneer pitching right away in the first inning.  Yelle started the inning with an infield single.  After a sac bunt, Bulthuis hit a towering home run to right field.  Later in the inning, Russman drove in pinch-runner Alex Ortiz with a single up the middle to make the score, 3-0.  The Pioneers opened up their scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the first as they closed the gap to 3-1.  After scoreless second inning, the Tigers extended their lead in the third.  Bulthuis led off the inning with a triple to right field and Dylan Miller drove him in on a groundout to second.  Later in the inning, Russman recorded his second RBI of the game when he laid down a bunt between the pitcher and first baseman and plated Ortiz.  The Tigers led 5-1.   The Pioneers added three runs in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double and a two-run homer making the score, 5-4. 

The Tiger grew their lead in the fourth inning when Miller, Wheeler, and Hudson each delivered run-scoring singles.  ONU led 9-4.  The Pioneers got one back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double, but the Tigers still led, 9-5. The Tigers broke the game open in the top of the sixth inning.  With two runners on, Wheeler reached on an error by the shortstop and Bulthuis scored on the play.  Then, Hudson singled home Miller and later in the inning, Gunnar Pullins drove in Ortiz with a sac fly to centerfield making the score, 12-5. The Pioneers added a pair of the runs in the bottom of the seventh and made the score 12-7. 

Ethan Underwood towed the rubber and went six innings and surrendered five runs, but the offense gave him plenty of run support as the Tigers earn their first win of the season, 12-7 in game three.

Game Four: No. 22 MNU 6, RV ONU 3

The Tigers carried their momentum from game one of the day into game two and struck for a pair of runs in the second inning.  With two outs, Russman singled and came around to score after he stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch.  Pullins then homered to right field to make the score 2-0.  The Pioneers then took the lead in the bottom of the third on RBI doubles making the score, 3-2. MidAmerica Nazarene then extended their lead to 6-2 as they marked three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  

The Tigers continued to fight till the end.  In the top of the seventh inning, Hudson doubled with one out and advanced to third on a groundout.  Then, Hudson scored on a passed ball making the score, 6-3.  The Tigers left runners at first and third and were unable to plate the tying runs as MidAmerica Nazarene won the final game of the series, 6-3.  

GAME VITALS

Finals: Game One: No. 22 MNU 2, RV ONU 1 | Game Two: No. 22 MNU 9, RV ONU 5 | Game Three: RV ONU 12, No. 22 MNU 7 | Game Four: No. 22 MNU 6, RV ONU 3

Records: No. 22 MNU: 5-2 | RV ONU: 1-3 

Location: Robbie Jones Field @ Dixon Stadium | MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe, Kan.

QUICK HITS (All four games)

• Bulthuis led the Tigers with a pair of doubles, a triple, a home run, and a pair of RBIs in the four games. 
• Pullins, Wheeler, and Almodover all homered for the Tigers. 
• Wheeler drove in four runs to lead the Tigers. 
• Hudson marked five hits for the Tigers, while Wheeler and Russman marked at least one hit in all four games. 
• Russman, Mooney, and Ortiz each marked a stolen base in the four games.
• The Tiger pitching staff struck out 20 batters in four games. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers travel to McKenzie, Tennessee for a four-game series with the Wildcats of Bethel University on Friday, February 18 through Saturday, February 19.  Game one on Friday starts at 1 p.m. CST. 

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu