Game 1 - Pioneers 5... Northeastern JC 6
Northeastern JC took a 4-0 lead to the top of the 5th inning and held off a late Pioneer rally in the top of the 7th as the Plainsmen took game 3 of a 4 game series in Parker, Colorado. The Pioneers had only 7 hits in the game and took advantage of 7 free baserunners due to walks. SS Jaeden Jordahl (Billings, MT) was the only Pioneer with multiple hits. Jordahl was 2-2 on the day (2B, 2 BB) and was part of a Pioneer rally in the 5th inning. Trailing 4-0, 2B Dalton Martin (Gillette, WY) hit an infield single to 3B and Jordahl doubled to right to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. CF Grant Gabbert then hit a 2 RBI single to centerfield to make the score 4-2.
NJC added a run in the 5th and another in the 6th to make the score 6-2 going to the 7th inning. DH Tommy O'Connell (Kalispell, MT) was hit by a pitch, Wyatt Searcy (Littleton, CO) and Takumi Kimoto (Brisbane, Australia) walked to load up the bases. Belgrade, MT native Lane Neill singled in 2 runs to cut the score to 6-4. Brady Jones (Manhattan, MT) then had an RBI sacrifice bunt scoring Kimoto to make it 6-5 and moved Neill to 2nd base. The game ended on a Dalton Martin fly ball to centerfield.
Pioneer batters struck out 7 times and the defense committed 3 errors.
Bridger Erickson (St. Anthony, ID) got the start for MCC and went 3.2 innings (8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 SO) and was saddled with the loss. Tyler Cutler (Helena, MT) came in to pitch the final 2.1 innings (2 R, 3 H, BB, 5 SO).
Game 2 - Pioneers 10... Northeastern JC 6 (8 Innings)
The MCC Pioneers scored a run in the top of the 7th to send the game to extra innings and then added 4 in the top of 8th and held on for a 10-6 win over Northeastern JC to pick up one game of the 4-game series.
The Pioneers picked up 2 runs in the top of the 2nd after a walk and a fielder's choice brought Jaeden Jordahl to the plate for an RBI single. Matt Burton (Helena, MT) then scored on an error by NJC catcher. The Pioneers extended their lead to 5-0 in the 3rd inning with a 2-out, 3-run rally. Tommy O'Connell (Kalispell, MT) hit a home run to center field, Wyatt Searcy then hit a single and Lane Neill homered to right field to give the Pioneers some short lived breathing room.
NJC answered with 3 runs in the 4th inning, 2 more in the 5th and one in the 6th to give the Plainsmen a 6-5 lead. In the top of the 7th, Grant Gabbert doubled to left field and Kam Kostial (Rexburg, ID) reached on an error that scored Gabbert. After shutting down the Plainsmen in the bottom of the 7th, Wyatt Searcy and Lane Neill. Dalton Martin (Gillette, WY) connected with an RBI single to give the Pioneers a 7-6 lead. Martin advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch and Matt Burton walked. Jordahl then singled in Martin and Burton advanced to 3rd. Takumi Kimoto (Brisbane, Australia) then knocked Burton and Jordahl in with a 2 RBI single.
Cam Murphy (Torrington, WY) got the win for the Pioneers finishing the final 2 innings of the game (H, 2 SO). Patrick Dietz (Manhattan, MT) got the start and pitched 3.2 innings (4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 SO). Michael Ohlin (Billings, MT) pitched 1.1 innings (2 H, 2 R, SO) and Jack Corriveau chipped in 1 inning (2 H, R).
MCC next scheduled game is February 25 at Scottsbluff, Nebraska against Western Nebraska for another 4-game series.