LATE SPARK NOT ENOUGH IN PIOS LOSS TO AUBURN

By Anthony La Bonté

ELMIRA, NY—The Elmira Pioneers bats would light the scoreboard up late Friday night, with two runs in the ninth inning, but would not be able to overcome the Auburn Doubledays in a 12-3 loss, at Historic Dunn Field.

Four Pioneers would reach base in the ninth—all starting off a double by Brandon Doubek. Jack Aylward and Ryan Kristof would both hit RBI singles to cut the deficit but with two outs the Pioneers were not able to hold on as the final pitch would be hit into the glove of Teddy Monahan, left fielder for Auburn, to end the game.

Brenden Hayes (1-1) would pitch six innings for Elmira, with only two runs getting past him (one earned), as he also struck out seven batters. Then four other arms would come out of the bullpen in relief to get through the final three innings, allowing one run in the seventh, four in eighth, and five runs in top half of the ninth inning.

Jack Tubman was the lone Pioneer to have a multi-hit performance with two singles before being pinch-hit by Liam Shaut in the ninth inning.

The Pioneers fall to a 5-4 record, with their next games being a double header in Jamestown, against the Tarp skunks, Sunday Jun. 14. The next home game for Elmira will be an out of league matchup against the Syracuse Salt Cats Wednesday, Jun. 17— which will be the celebration of Stitches Birthday and Texas Roadhouse Free Kids Meals. For ticket information contact the Elmira Pioneers at (607) 734-2690.