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Pioneers Use Long Ball to Sweep NDSCS on Friday

Pioneers Use Long Ball to Sweep NDSCS on Friday
Posted: Apr 13, 2023

Game 1 - Pioneers 15... NDSCS Wildcats 4

The MCC Pioneers scored 8 runs in the 4th inning and then 3 more in the 5th inning to break away from a close game and defeat the NDSCS Wildcats 15-6 in game one on Friday afternoon. 

DH Tommy O'Connell (Kalispell, MT) had a big game with a 2-3 (HR, 4 RBI, 3 R) and CF Kruz Slevira (Billings, MT) was 2-2 (HR, 3 RBI, 2 R) to lead the Pioneers to the victory. SS Jaeden Jordahl (Billings, MT) also went deep in a 1-2 effort (HR, 3 RBI, 2 R).

MCC also took advantage of 7 walks and 5 hit batsman to total 15 runs on only 9 hits. 

LF Grant Gabbert (Thorton, CO) was the other Pioneer with 2 hits going 2-4 (3B, R).

The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the 1st after Jordahl was hit by a pitch and Gabbert walked. They quickly exectuted a double steal and Jordahl scored on a ground out by C Takumi Kimoto (Brisbane, Australia). The Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the 1st with 2 runs and then were quieted until the 5th inning. 

MCC added 2 in the 3rd inning after an O'Connell single and a Slevira home run to left field and a 3-2 Pioneer lead. The Pioneers then put the game away in the 4th inning with an 8 spot on the scoreboard. 1B Spencer Searcey (Denver, CO) and 2B Dalton Martin (Gillette, WY) each walked and Jordahl followed that with a 3-run shot to left field. Then with one out, Kimoto doubled and was replaced at second base with courtesy runner Matt Burton (Helena, MT). Burton stole 3rd and O'Connell drew a walk. RF Wyatt Searcey (Denver, CO) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Slevira followed that with an RBI single and 3B Lane Neill (Belgrade, MT) was hit by a pitch to bring in another run for an 8-2 lead. Spencer Searcey delivered a 2 RBI single and then Neill scored on a double steal to give the Pioneers a 11-2 lead. 

Tommy O'Connell then hit a 3-run blast in the top of the 5th for a 14-2 lead. It looked as if the game would end in the 5th but the Wildcats plated 3 runs to extend the game in to the 6th inning and also scored a run in the 6th. MCC tacked on it's final run in the 7th after a Gabbert triple and O'Connell sacrifice fly to finish the scoring. 

Jacob Walker (Brisbane, Australia) got the start and pitched 5 complete innings (6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 SO). Mason Peters (Columbia Falls, MT) finished the final 2 innings (2 H, R)

Inside the Box Score

  • MCC outhit NDSCS 9-8. 
  • The Pioneers drew 12 free bases from Wildcat pitching. MCC pitching only allowed 2 walks.
  • MCC had 3 errors and NDSCS had none.

 

Game 2 - Pioneers 10... NDSCS 0

Michael Ohlin (Billings, MT) had a dominating pitching performance giving up only 3 hits over 5 innings and striking out 7 leading the Pioneers to a 6-inning shut out victory. Josh Banderob (Great Falls, MT) pitched the 6th inning in perfect fashion striking out one. 

Takumi Kimoto and Tommy O'Connell had back to back home runs in in the first inning to lead the Pioneers to 5 runs in the 1st. The score remained 5-0 until the 5th inning when the pair of Kimoto and O'Connell smacked back to back jacks again in the 5th inning. MCC then ended the game in the 6th inning when Kruz Slevira was hit by a pitch and Spencer Searcey doubled to drive in Slevira. Pinch hitter Jessen West (Billings, MT) then smashed the Pioneers 5th home run of the game to give the Pioneers the final 10-0 margin. 

Inside the Box Score

  • NDSCS had 2 errors and the Pioneers had one.
  • Pioneer pitchers did not allow a free pass to 1st base. NDSCS pitchers walked 4 and had 2 hit batsmen. 
  • Ohlin threw 44 strikes in his 66 pitches. 

MCC now has a 2-game lead in the MonDak Conference standings with a 7-1 league mark. The Pioneers are 21-8 overall and will host Lake Region State on Saturday afternoon.