Pios drop lead late, fall to Pilots 7-4

The Elmira Pioneers dropped their 7th straight road game once again to the Newark Pilots 7-4 on Friday night. The Pioneers saw another quality start this time from Keegan Ernest who went 5 innings allowing just 3 runs before turning the game over to the bullpen which has struggled early on this season. 

The first inning got off to a quick start as both teams tallied single runs in their respective half innings. Jeff Mejia turned out to be the first run for the Pios after hitting a single, Mason Ruhlman continued to drive in RBI's as he hit a double to bring in Mejia. In the bottom half a single by the leadoff hitter David Bermudez and two past balls followed by another single from Over Torres tied up the game.

Elmira wasn't done though as they came out in the second and on the power of three straight hits took back the lead as Kyle Richardson doubled, Davis Zerr singled to move Richardson to third, and then Andrew Sexton followed up with a double to drive in Richardson, putting Zerr on third. A groundball drove in Zerr to give the Pios a 3-1 lead. 

The lead would hold up until the bottom of the fifth as after getting two outs Ernest began to show signs of fatigue giving up a single to Torres, a double to Jordan Fiedor driving in Torres, and a single to Ty Syta bringing in Fiedor. Ernest would reset and get the third out, but the ball game was tied. 

The Pioneers were blanked again in the sixth, but the bullpen was unable to copy and paste the 0. Steven Rossi came in for his fourth appearance on the young season and walked three straight batters before Manager Matt Burch turned to the pen again to bring in Alex Bardo. Bardo earned a quick out a sac fly, but as the name suggests a run did cross the plate. The next batter Allen Murphy singled to drive in another run, and then Torres singled to bring around two more. Bardo would shut it down there and pitch two more successful innings and the onus would go onto the offense to bring it back even. 

Elmira had six outs to get the game tied back up, but they were unable to crack Pilots pitching until there was two out in the 9th. Richardson had singled and up at the dish was Sexton who hit a wall scraper to drive in Richardson, but as he tried to stretch a double into a triple he was tagged out and ended the game.

The Pios continue to seek wins and will try again at historic Dunn Field tonight as the Saugerties Stallions come in for a two game Saturday, Sunday set. Tonight's game begins at 7:05 pm and will have Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks! Come on out and catch the excitement!