DH Lewis Johnson came up big and the Pioneers broke open a close game with 8 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to advance to the MonDak Conference Semifinal with a 12-3 win over Lake Region State College. Johnson homered and doubled driving in 4 runs while scoring twice on a windy afternoon in Williston, ND. 

Lake Region scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Pioneers rallied in the bottom of the 1st thanks to a couple of walks and an RBI single from 1B Dawson Parry. MCC's 2nd run came on a fielder's choice that scored Cade Stuff for a 2-1 lead. The lead moved to 3-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning when LF Ian Krump scored on back to back wild pitches from the LRSC pitching staff. 

The Royals then cut the lead to 1 in the 3rd inning before the Pioneers scored in the 4th after CF Jake Lacey singled on a bunt play and reached 3rd on a groundout by Krump. RF Hunter Lasko then singled in Lacey for a 4-2 lead. LRSC then cut the lead back to 1 run iwth a score in the top of the 5th. 

The Pioneers then took control in the 8th after a Johnson double and an infield bunt single by Lacey. Krump then singled in Johnson for a 5-3 lead. Lasko followed that up with a double scoring Lacey and Krump. SS Brayden Howard then singled in Lasko to bulge the lead to 8-3. After a 2B Cade Stuff walk, Parry singled in Howard for a 9-3 lead. After batting around in the inning, Lewis Johnson the belted a 3-run home run to right field to end the game. 

The Pioneers reached the 40 win mark on the season and are 2 wins away from a program record. They will face the winner of the Bismarck State/Dawson game in the undefeated semifinal on Saturday if the weather in Williston holds up. The game is scheduled for 2:00 PM MST. The win guarantees the Pioneers qualified for the Region XIII playoffs next weekend in Rosemount, MT.