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Bratlien Twirls No-Hitter; Pioneers Drop Lumberjacks Twice

Bratlien Twirls No-Hitter; Pioneers Drop Lumberjacks Twice
Posted: Mar 28, 2025

Game 1 - Pioneers 10... Dakota College at Bottineau 0 (6 Innings)

Lance Bratlien (Helena, MT) had it going on Thursday afternoon in Miles City, MT. Bratlien faced the minimum batters he could face in a pitching masterpiece (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO) and helped himself at the plate with a solo home run (10) in the 1st inning as the Pioneers defeated the DCB Lumberjacks 10-0 in game 1. 

One Lumberjack batter reached base on a Pioneer error and was promptly picked off at 1st base in the 3rd inning as Bratlien was untouchable the entire afternoon on the mound. 

MCC scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning and all 4 runs came on Lumberjack wild pitches. 

The Pioneers then scored a run in the 3rd inning on another wild pitch. In the 4th inning, Parry walked and Casey Morgan (RF - Salt Lake City, UT) singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Tanner Goertz (LF - Highlands Ranch, CO) singled to load the bases. Luke Thorne (3B - Missoula, MT) delivered a 2 RBI single that scored Parry and Morgan. Goertz then scored on a ground out double play. 

MCC ended the game in the bottom of the 6th inning loading the bases on 2 walks and a 3rd hit of the game from Bickett. Chandler Smith (C - Miles City, MT) walked to scored the winning run. 

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers had 9 hits (HR, 2B).
  • Pioneer batters struck out ony twice and walked 9 times. They also reached base 5 times getting hit by pitch. 
  • The Pioneers had 6 stolen bases. 
  • DCB had 2 errors and the Pioneers had 1. 

 

Game 2 - Pioneers 8... Dakota College at Bottineau 5

In a much different game from game 1, the Pioneers clawed out a tight 8-5 win to take Thursday's doubleheader. 

This time, DCB got on the board 1st with 2 runs on 4 hits in the top of the 1st inning. 

MCC tied the game with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Tanner Goertz reached base on a error and Luke Thorne singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Ostyn Brennan (2B - Kalispell, MT) had a bunt single and Goertz scored on a throwing error. Brady Bickett then picked up a RBI on a sacrifice fly. 

DCB took the lead again with a run in the top of the 3rd and the Pioneers answered in the bottom of the 3rd on a solo home run from Coleman Parry (9). 

The Lumberjacks once again took the lead with a run in the top of the 4th but this time the Pioneers answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning. Brennen walked and Chandler Smith hit his 1st home run of the season to put the Pioneers ahead 5-4. Bohden Bahnmiller (SS - Helena, MT) singled and Bratlien singled to set Parry up for a RBI double and runners on the corners. Bratlien scored on a Casey Morgan ground out to put the Pioneers ahead 7-4. 

DCB got to within 7-5 in the top of 6th but the Pioneers scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the 6th on a sacrifice fly RBI from Tanner Goertz. 

Bahnmiller and Parry were the two Pioneers that had 2 hits in the game. 

Lee Neugebauer (Rapid City, SD) got the game 2 start and pitched 4 innings (4 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 7 SO) and Brandon Hegedus (Littleton, CO) cleaned up the final 3 innings (R, 2 H, BB, 4 SO).

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers had 9 hits (2 HR, 2 2B) and the Lumberjacks had 9 hits (2B).
  • DCB had 2 errors and the Pioneers had one. 
  • Pioneer pitchers struck out 11 batters and walked 4. They hit 2 Lumberjack batters. 
  • Lumberjack pitchers struck out 6 batters and walked 5.
  • MCC had 4 stolen bases and DCB had 3.

The Pioneers are now 22-10 on the season and 4-1 in MonDak Conference play. The same 2 teams will square off in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1:00 PM at Connors Stadium.