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Pioneers Sweep Dakota College; Host Region XIII Playoffs Next Weekend

Pioneers Sweep Dakota College; Host Region XIII Playoffs Next Weekend
Posted: May 07, 2023

Game 1 - Pioneers 9... Dakota College 1

Jeremy Gee pitched a 7 inning 4-hitter and the Pioneers took advantage of 4 Lumberjack errors to claw their way to a 9-1 win in game 1 of the MonDak Conference playoff. Gee struck out 9 Lumberjack batters and walked only one on his way to a complete game win. 

MCC put up 5 runs in the 3rd inning after falling behind 1-0 and the put the game away with 4 more runs in the bottom of the 4th. The game ended after 7 inning because of the 8-run rule. 

SS Jaeden Jordahl led off the 3rd inning with a triple and scored when LF Grant Gabbert reached base on an error. C Takumi Kimoto singled and DH Tommy O'Connell walked to load the bases. Gabbert scored on a LF Kruz Slevira sacrifice fly and Kimoto moved to 3rd. 3B Lane Neill singled to score Kimoto and the Pioneers led 3-1. Back to back wild pitches scored O'Connell and Niell moved to 3rd. Neill then scored on a double steal with Wyatt Searcey for a 5-1 lead. 

The Pioneers followed that with a 4 run 4th inning after Gabbert singled and Kimoto hit an inside the park home run that went all the way to the 438 foot make at the centerfield fence. O'Connell doubled, Slevira walked, and 1B Spencer Searcey walked to load the bases. O'Connell and Slevira scored when the Lumberjack catcher errantly threw a ball to first base that went all the way to right field. 

Inside the Box Score

  • DCB committed 4 errors and the Pioneers only 1.
  • Kimoto was the only Pioneer with 2 hits and 2 RBI.
  • Pioneer batters walked 11 times and were hit by pitch twice. 
  • Gee walked only one batter and hit 2. 

 

Game 2 - Pioneers 16... Dakota College 5

Dakota College got off to a hot start by scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st but the Pioneers answered by scoring runs in all 5 innings enroute to a 16-5 victory aide by a 3-run walk off home run by DH Tommy O'Connell. 

The Pioneers scored 2 runs in the 1st inning after a Grant Gabbert single and Kimoto double put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Gabbert scored on a passed ball and Kimoto moved to 3rd before O'Connell drove him in with a sacrifice fly RBI. 

MCC took control of the game with 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Lane Neill singled and Spencer Searcey walked before RF Matt Burton hit a bunt single to load the bases. 2B Jessen West walked home a run and Jaeden Jordahl was hit by a pitch to bring in another run. Burton then scored on a sacrifice fly from C Mike Ohlin and the Pioneers led 5-3. Tommy O'Connell then cracked his 1st home run of the game with a towering shot to right-center field. 

The Pioneers extended that lead to 10-3 in the 3rd inning after back to back walks to Burton and West. Both runners moved up a base with a double steal and Gabbert walked to load the bases. Ohlin then hit a hard 2 RBI single to centerfield. 

3 more runs were plated in the 4th inning for a 13-2 lead after back to back batters (Slevira, Neill) were hit by pitch and moved up a base with double steals. Slevira scored on a Matt Burton groundout and the Jessen West hit a triple to score Neill. West scored on a wild pitch before the inning ended. 

The Lumberjacks kept the game going in the top of the 5th with 3 runs to cut the lead to 13-5 but the Pioneers were ready for the day to be over by closing the game with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th. LF Brady Jones and Ohlin hit back to back singles before O'Connell hit a line drive home run to left field for the win. 

Bridger Erickson got the start for the Pioneers and pitched 4.1 innings (5 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 SO) and Patrick Dietz finished the final 2 outs and struck out one. 

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers outhit the Lumberjacks 10-6.
  • O'Connell accounted for 7 RBI and Ohlin had 3. Jessen West had 2 and Jordahl had the other one. 
  • The Pioneers stole 5 bases. 
  • MCC had 5 walks and 4 hit batsmen. 
  • MCC had the only error of the game. 

The Pioneers will host the Region XIII Playoffs next Friday and Saturday at Connors Stadium. The complete schedule will be available on Monday. MCC is now 35-12 on the season.