Pioneers Bombed Early but Comeback Late, Fall 13-8

The Pioneers came into Tuesday night's game against the Newark Pilots looking to finally put a win up on the road after soundly defeating the Pilots on Saturday night at home. The Pilots were responsible for beginning the Pios long losing streak and after a loss to Geneva on Sunday afternoon Elmira came in determined not to fall back into familiar habits. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Matt Busher came in and could not find his control so after a quick top of the first it seemed to be no time at all before Newark had the bases loaded. Busher walked two in the inning, including the first run of the game, before getting a ground ball double play to bring in the second run. Matt would get out of the inning as Dylan Duplechain grounded out for the third out. 

Elmira was once again blanked in the top of the second, a trend which continued until the 7th inning. The Pilots on the other hand got to Busher again driving in 5 runs before Manager Matt Burch went to the bullpen for Chase Austin. Austin would come in with the bases loaded and did his best to work through it but got tagged with two more runs before he could close out the second for a 9-0 lead.

The third inning came and went as Austin was near perfect, but then in the fourth he would also get bombed for another 4 runs making it a 13-0 game for the Pilots. Austin regained his composure to get through the fifth as well before Brendan Koester entered the game in the sixth and punched out the side in order.

This bottom of the sixth seemed to reenergize Elmira as they came out with a renewed patience as Trae Harmon, Brennen Dorighi, and Chase Buffington all walked before Nathan Berg and Preston Moore drove them all in. The Pioneers looked like a new team in the field too once again with Koester only facing 3 batters in the bottom of the seventh. 

Elmira continued to play catch up as they added two in the top of the eight as Harmon and Moore rounded the base paths once again on RBI's from Dorighi and a passed ball on Buffington. The Pioneers trailed 13-5 after 8 as Berg moved from Short to the Pitcher's Mound and again stopped Newark in their tracks 1,2,3. 

The top of the ninth got exciting as the Pios loaded the bases and scored three more runs, but that is where it would end. The final score 13-8 as Elmira made a valiant effort to catch up, but just didn't have enough gas. 

The Pioneers are back in action tonight from Mohawk Valley as they take on the DiamondDawgs at 6:45 pm before retuning to historic Dunn Field tomorrow night at 7:05pm! Don't miss your chance to see the Pioneers live call 607-734-2690 and get your tickets now!