Game 1 - Pioneers 13... Lake Region State 9

In a game that saw 5 different lead changes, the MCC Pioneers made the final surge tying the game at 9-9 with a run in the 6th inning and then pushing 4 runs across the plate in the top of the 7th to squeak out a 13-9 win to open MonDak Conference play on Saturday afternoon. The game was played in rainy, windy conditions in Miles City after a decision was made to move the games from Devils Lake due to weather conditions there. 

Brady Bickett (CF - Rapid City, SD) had a perfect 3-3 day at the plate (2 R, BB) and 7 different Pioneers punched out 2 hits in the win. Coleman Parry (1B, American Fork, UT) slugged 2 home runs and had 3 RBI in the game and Ostyn Brennan (SS - Kalispell, MT) had a home run and 4 RBI in a 2-5 effort at the plate. Luke Wilson (DH - Calgary, Alberta), Casey Morgan (RF - Salt Lake City, UT), Luke Thorne (3B - Missoula, MT), and Tanner Goertz (LF - Highlands Ranch, CO) all had 2 hits as well. 

The Pioneers got on the board 1st with 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning on a 3-run home run off the bat of Brennan. Lake Region tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the 2nd and then took a 6-3 lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd.

The Pioneers reclaimed the lead with 5 runs in the top of the 4th inning. Bohden Bahnmiller (2B - Helena, MT) led the inning off with a triple and Bickett drew a walk. Bahnmiller scored on a double steal and Goertz drove in Bickett with a double. With one out, Coleman Parry hit his first of 2 home runs to drive in 2 and give the Pioneers a 7-6 lead. Brandon Hegedus (C - Littleton, CO) walked and Brock Lopez (Commerce City, CO) came in as a courtesy runner. Wilson singled and Lopez moved to 3rd on a sacrifice fly by Thorne. Brennan then drove in Lopez with a RBI single. 

Lake Region scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the 5th to take a 9-8 lead. The Pioneers tied the game 9-9 on Parry's 2nd home run of the game. In the deciding 7th inning, Bickett and Goertz hit back to back singles and Bickett moved to 3rd on a fly ball out. Bickett scored on a sacrifice fly RBI from Hegedus. and Morgan singled to drive in Goertz. Thorne then drove in the final runs of the game with a 2 RBI double. 

Chase Goode (Castle Rock, CO) got the start and pitched 3 innings (4 H, 6 R, 4 BB, SO) before giving way to Mayson Shively (Three Forks, MT) for the next 1.1 innings (R, 3 SO). Colin Fortier (American Fork, UT) pitched 0.1 innings (2 H, BB, SO) and Lance Bratlien came in to get the win with the final 2.1 innings (H, BB, 6 SO).

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers had 17 hits (3 HR, 3B, 3 2B) and the Royals had 7 hits (2 HR).
• Pioneer batters struck out only once and walked 8 times. Royal batters struck out 11 times and walked 6 times. Each team had 3 hit batsman. 
• The Pioneers had 5 errors and the Royals had 1.
• The Pioneers had 3 stolen bases and the Royals 2.

Game 2 - Pioneers 9... Lake Region State 5

In a much different game than game 1, the Pioneers struck early and then held on late for the win. MCC got 6 runs in the 1st inning and 2 more in the 2nd to build a 8-1 lead. MCC got another run in the 4th and the LRSC cut the lead to 9-5 in the 7th inning but didn't have enough to get over the hump. 

Lance Bratlien had 3 hits including the only home run of the game for the Pioneers. Coleman Parry also had 3 hits as the Pioneers collected 10 hits in the game. Luke Wilson had 3 RBI. 

In the 6 run 1st inning, Tanner Goertz led off with a walk and Bratlien singled. Parry walked to load the bases and Goertz scored as Casey Morgan reached on an error. Wilson had 2 of his RBI with a single to score Bratlien and Parry. Luke Thorne singled to load the bases again MCC scored on a fielders choice. Bohden Bahnmiller walked to load the bases and then the next 2 runs came on wild pitches.

The Pioneers scored in the 2nd inning on a wild pitch and a ground out. The final Pioneer run came on a solo home run from Bratlien. 

Lee Neugebauer (Rapid City, SD) got the start for the Pioneers and pitched 5 innings (6 H, 3 R, BB, 7 SO). Trae Awbery (Miles City, MT) pitched the final 2 innings (2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO). 

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers had 10 hits (HR) and the Royals had 8 (HR).
• Lake Region had the only error in the game. 
• Pioneer batters struck out 4 times and walked 5. Royal batters struck out 10 times and walked 3.
• MCC had 1 stolen base and LRSC had 2.

The Pioneers are now 19-9 overall and 2-0 in MonDak Conference play. The same teams will play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 1:00 PM