Pioneers Fall Behind Early, Can't Recover 7-5
The Elmira Pioneers came in on a 4 game losing streak to Friday night's game and afterwards it would be pushed to five. The Watertown Rapids came to town for the first time this season as they matched up with Keegan Ernest. Ernest came in off a 4 inning 10 strikeout performance that was shortened by rain delays six days ago.
The first inning saw some trouble right away for the Pios as Ernest gave up two runs with two outs in the top half. Elmira rebounded well however scoring a run of their own in the first as after being hit by a pitch to start the bottom Jeff Mejia came around to score on a Ryan Teschko grounder to third. In a similar fashion in the second Elmira tied it up as Nathan Berg walked and then was driven in by a Davis Zerr ground ball out to tie the game at 2-2.
The Rapids scored in the fourth after a Vinny DeRubeis triple followed by a Brandon Taylor double before the floodgates opened in the fifth. Watertown saw three runs cross the plate and seemed to be out to a comfortable four run lead. This would chase Ernest and bring in Alex Bardo to complete the final out.
The Pioneers had some of their own hitting to brag about in the bottom of the fifth, as Garrett Schultz, Teschko, and Cam Redding all scored bringing the Pioneers to within one. Unfortunately for the Pioneers that is as close as it would get. Trae Harmon came on and pitched two innings of relief surrendering one run in the top of the ninth and Watertown closed it out 7-5.
Elmira is back in action tonight at 7:05pm as the Newark Pilots come to town. This is Newark's first visit as the Pioneers look to break the losing streak against the team who started it. Get your tickets now 607-734-2690!