Park University's baseball program had a four-game series with (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene University on Friday and Saturday at Mid-America Sports Complex on Friday and in Olathe, Kan. on Saturday. The Pioneers take the series 3-1.

At 23-18 on the season and 18-14 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, the Pirates have qualified as the No. 5 seed in the Heart Conference Tournament in Ozark, Mo. on Thursday, May 1. The Pioneers have secured the No. 2 spot at 32-14 and 25-7 in the conference.

L, 0-2 | Box Score
The Pirates would hold MidAmerica Nazarene to four runs between the first two games of the series. Starting in game one was Raul Garcia, who struck out six batters in a complete game with only five hits allowed.

On the offensive side, Park had five runners left on base and MidAmerica Nazarene's Luis Lopez had nine strikeouts along the way to shutout Park.

The Pioneers struck ground in the second inning with back-to-back, one out singles. A double down the leftfield line would be the only offensive production for either side to score two runs.

Of the six hits, Yadiel Santana was the only Pirate to have multiple hits. The Pioneers held Park to no extra base-hits and they turned one double-play.

W, 4-2 | Box Score
It was another pitching duel in game two. This time the Pirates were on the winning side with excellent outings from Jake Beckmann and Eddie Freidel.
Beckmann had some early threats from the Pioneers with a two-run bottom of the first that scored on a two-RBI single. Outside of that though, Beckmann two more shutout innings before handing the ball off to Freidel in the with two outs in the fourth.

A series of seniors got the wheels greased in the bottom of the third, as Houston Penrod began the inning with a single and then Alex Rodriguez, who worked a two-hit game two, also singled to get a runner in scoring position. Billy Rivera had the big hit in the series for Park with a double to right center. Gilberto Torres then singled to tie the game at 2-2 and then a sacrifice fly by Ricardo Hernandez got Park to the lead, 3-2.

Freidel took over in the fourth inning and inherited runners at second and first with two outs. A quick flyout ended the inning to preserve the lead. The junior transfer from McKendree University went on to toss three shutout innings, while not surrendering a hit. He moved to 3-0 on the season with a strikeout and a walk in the outing.

Park got some baserunners in the top of the seventh and a passed ball brought in Park's fourth run for the 4-2 win.

L, 6-7 | Box Score
There was more offense from the Pirates in game three, as the games were transferred to the smaller park on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene.

Hernandez picked up his second RBI of the series with a single to score Rivera in the top of the first. MidAmerica Nazarene would pick up a run to tie in the bottom half though, 1-1.

Bryan Aguirre recovered on the mound for Park and pitched the next three innings scoreless.

Park picked up with the scoring in the top of the fourth with another two RBIs from Billy Rivera on a single to centerfield. The next half inning another two runs came around off of a two-run home run from Jake Lufft, giving Park a 5-1 lead.

A six-run bottom of the fifth flipped the game in the Pioneers favor though, 7-5. Aguirre would finish his day with 4.1 innings pitched no walks, five hits and four earned runs to his credit. Hank Holdenried, Michael Uhler, and Guillermo Gelpi came in relief, but three hit batters and four hits in the inning led to the six runs among all four Pirate pitchers.

Zayne Morrow made it interesting with a solo home run for Park in the top of the seventh, but that would be where the game would finish, 7-6.

Only one walk in the game for the Pirates' staff, while the Pioneers walked five batters

L, 0-15 | Box Score
The series took a big turn in game four, as the Pirates were limited to just two hits offensively.

With runs in each of the first three innings for the Pioneers, this game was 11-0 very quick. MidAmerica Nazarene had six extra-base hits of their16 hits for the game, including three doubles and three home runs.

It's still been an effective year for Lufft on the mound with a 5-3 record after the game four loss.

Park for the second year in a row is in the Heart Conference Tournament and will face No. 4 Mount Mercy at 1:30pm on Thursday, May 1 in Ozark, Mo. The tournament is double-elimination and all games are nine innings, held at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. WATCH