Pioneers Keep In Playoff Hunt, 12-5 Win Over Geneva
The Pioneers came back to historic Dunn Field after a defeat on Friday night to the Watertown Rapids. The Pios came in to the night half a game out of third and half a game ahead of Watertown for the final spot in the west. Geneva has had the Pioneers number this season until recently.
The pitchers both started off successfully as Alex Bardo and Geneva's Zach Crane were both able to put up a 0 in inning number one. The Pios were able to get to Crane in the second as they put up a run as Brennan Dorighi drove in Trae Harmon on a sacrifice fly to earn the first run of the game.
The Red Wings responded quickly scoring three runs in the top of the third, but the Pioneers wouldn't be undone. In the bottom half of the third inning Elmira posted two more runs as Harmon drove in Jeff Mejia and Brody Moore to tie up the game. Matt Busher entered the game in the fourth inning to give Elmira a chance to keep the score down after Bardo struggled through the third.
It has been said time and time again that the Pios score in bunches. This has never been more evident than in the fourth inning of tonights game. 11 batters came to the plate and 5 runs came across. Mejia, Moore, Nathan Peng, Bryce Moskiewicz, and Dorighi all added RBI's to their line scores.
The Pioneers would again see three more runs cross in the eighth inning as Kyle Richardson, Trevor Henneman, and Mejia all added RBI's to their stat lines as well. This would be enough as the 12-3 lead seemed more than enough for the Pios to claim the win. After 4 perfect innings Matt Busher began to tire in inning number nine and saw two runs pushed across recording just one out. Nathan Peng came in and shut the door as Elmira claimed the victory and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The Pios will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as they take on the Oneonta Outlaws in Oneonta. They return home Tuesday for a double header against Oneonta beginning at 5:05 pm! Get your tickets now 607-734-2690!