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Pioneers Blow Big Lead as Lake Region Avoids Being Swept

Pioneers Blow Big Lead as Lake Region Avoids Being Swept
Posted: Mar 24, 2025

Game 1 - Pioneers 10... Lake Region State 5

 The MCC Pioneers built a 7-0 lead thru 3 innings and then held on as the Lake Region State College Royals cut the lead to 8-5 before Pioneer pitching shut down the Royals over the final 2 innings. 

The Pioneers got a run in the 1st inning and another in the 2nd on a solo home run from Casey Morgan (LF - Salt Lake City, UT). MCC picked up 5 runs in the 3rd inning as Brady Bickett (CF - Rapid City, SD) drew a walk, stole 2nd, and scored on a single from Coleman Parry (1B - American Fork, UT). Tanner Goertz (DH - Highlands Ranch, CO) was hit by a pitch and Brandon Hegedus (C - Littleton, CO) drew a walk to load the bases. Morgan walked to drive in Parry and Luke Thorne (3B - Missoula, MT) singled to drive in 2 more runs and a 6-0 Pioneer lead. Ostyn Brennan (SS - Kalispell, MT) drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. 

LRSC scored 2 runs in the 4th and MCC got a run in the bottom of the 4th on a solo home run off the bat of Lance Bratlien (LF - Helena, MT). After LRSC cut the Pioneer lead to 8-5 in the 5th inning, MCC plated 2 runs in the bottom of the inning for the final scores of the game. Brennanhit a RBI triple and eventually scored on a wild pitch. 

Bratlien, Morgan, Thorne, and Brennan all had 2 RBI in the game. 

Davis Mosier (Billings, MT) got the start on the mound and pitched 5 innings (3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 8 SO) and Brady Bickett finished the final 2 innings (BB, 3 SO).

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers had 8 hits (2 HR, 3B, 2B) and the Royals had just 3 hits (HR). 
  • MCC batters struck out 4 times and walked 8 times. LRSC batters struck out 11 times and walked 4 times. 
  • The Pioneers committed the only error of the game. 
  • Each team had 3 stolen bases. 

 

Game 2 - Pioneers 11... Lake Region State 14

What looked like was going to be a 4-game sweep for the Pioneers turned to a nightmare in game 2 as MCC blew a 10-1 lead after 3 innings of play. 

The LRSC Royals scored 7 runs in the 4th inning and 4 more in the 7th while scattering a run in the 3rd, 5th, and 6th innings to storm back and defeat the Pioneer. 

MCC got 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning after Bohden Bahnmiller (2B - Helena, MT) and Brady Bickett were both hit by pitches. Lance Bratlien followed that up with a 3-run homerun for a 3-0 Pioneer lead. With one out, Luke Wilson (C - Calgary, Alberta) hit a double and courtesy runner Brock Lopez (Commerce City, CO) moved to 3rd on a single from Casey Morgan. Ethan Forrest (DH - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) singled to drive in Lopez. Morgan scored on a sacrifice fly and Forrest scored on an error by the Royals catcher. 

After Lake Region scored a run in the top of the 3rd, the Pioneers took a 10-1 lead with 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Morgan drew a walk and moved to 2nd on an error. Luke Thorne drove in Morgan with a double to right field. Ostyn Brennan reached on an error as Thorne scored and moved all the way to 3rd base. MCC then scored on a groundout and a Royal error. 

The Pioneers cut the 14-10 Royal lead to 14-11 and had the bases loaded with one out but grounded in to a game ending double play to squelch the rally in the 7th inning. 

Morgan was the only Pioneer batter with an extra base hit. Bratlien had a team high 3 RBI. 

Max Holden got the start for the Pioneers and pitched 3.1 innings (2 H, 5 R, 6 BB, 4 SO). Evan Woods (Casper, WY) came in to the game and did not record an out (2 H, 3 R, 2 BB). Trae Awbery (Miles City, MT) had the next 1.1 innings H, R, BB, 2 SO) and Brandon Hegadus pitched the next 1.1 innings (2 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). Lance Bratlien closed the final inning (H, SO).

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers had 7 hits (2 HR, 2 2B) while the Royals had 8 hits (2B).
  • Lake Region batters struck out 10 times and walked 11 times. LRSC batters were hit by pitch twice. 
  • MCC batters struck out 4 times and walked 5 times. MCC batters were hit by pitch 4 times. 
  • Lake Region committed 5 errors and the Pioneers had 2.
  • Each team had 4 stolen bases. 

The Pioneers are now 20-10 on the season and 3-1 in MonDak Conference play. MCC will host Dakota College - Bottineau next Saturday and Sunday (March 29-30). First pitch on Saturday is at 1:00 PM MDT.