Extra innings Needed, but Playoffs Clinched for Pios, 5-4

The Pioneers came into Tuesday night's doubleheader needing either one win or a Watertown loss to claim their seventh consecutive playoff berth. Turning to Kentucky freshman Brendan Koester for the biggest game of the season the Pios worked well through the first three innings allowing 0 runs and scoring one of their own after Devin Lewis walked the bases loaded and then walked Jeff Mejia to drive in Brennen Dorighi in the second inning. 

The Outlaws tied up the game in the fourth and exploded for two more runs in the fifth to give them their first lead of the game. However, the Pioneers came back with a vengeance putting up a three spot of their own in the bottom of the fifth. After Andrew Sexton walked for the second time in the game, Mejia reached on an error to put runners on first and second for Brody Moore. Moore doubled to drive in both runs. Moore came in on a passed ball to give the Pioneers their one run lead back. 

Koester turned in an amazing performance through six, but the Pios elected to go with Steven Rossi for the seventh. Rossi gave up a double to lead off and on a passed ball allowed the tying run to score. Rossi shut the door then and in the top of the eighth after the Pios were unable to score a run in the bottom of the seventh.

The bottom of the eight saw Bryce Moskiewicz hit by a pitch before Dorighi, who scored the first run of the game, ended the game with a double to the wall to drive in Moskiewicz for the game winning run. 

The Pioneers have made the playoffs for the seventh time in the past seven years and will now play tomorrow against Newark in a game to determine rankings for the playoffs where they will either travel to Utica or Newark for the one game first round playoff on Thursday. Come on out to historic Dunn Field tomorrow for the final game of the regular season! Bring pet food to get in for free! Call 607-734-2690 for tickets!