Game 1 - Pioneers 4... NDSCS 6
The NDSCS Wildcats snuck out a hard fought 6-4 win over the MCC Pioneers in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. The Wildcats got off to a hot start with 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning on the strength of a 3-run home run by Ellie Miller.
The Pioneers responded with 3 of their own in the top of the 3rd. SS Sierra John (Idaho Falls, ID) started things off with a solo shot to leftfield to make the score 3-1. C HaiLeigh Davis (Shepherd, MT) singled and was then forced out on a fielder's choice off the bat of 2B Abby Johnson (Hamilton, MT). LF Liz Ybarra (Belgrade, MT) the doubled to centerfield to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. DP Megan Toplovich (Great Falls, MT) then hit a 2-run single to tie the game at 3-3. That was as close as the Pioneers would get.
NDSCS took the lead for good in the bottom of the 3rd with one run and pushed the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the 4th with another run. The Wilcats added another run for good measure in the 6th to take a 6-3 lead.
The Pioneers tried to rally in the 7th when HaiLeigh Davis singled but was thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch it to a double. Abby Johnson singled and was the driven home by a Ybarra double to make it 6-4 but the Wildcats forced a timely strikeout to end the game with Ybarra at 2nd base.
Davis and Ybarra each had 3 hits for the Pioneers who had 9 hits in the game. Hazel Eaton (Belgrade, MT) pitched a complete game and gave up 6 runs on 7 hits. She struck out 5 Wildcats and walked 2.
Game 2 - Pioneers 1... NDSCS 5
The Pioneers ran into a pitching buzz saw in game 2 of the doubleheader. Wildcat pitcher Kate Strauss threw a complete game 1-hitter and fanned 13 Pioneers enroute to a 5-1 NDSCS victory. The win gave the Wildcats a sweep of Sunday and a weekend series win.
Liz Ybarra collected the only hit of the game for the Pioneers in the 7th inning. The Pioneers were able to stay close due to the fact that Strauss walked 8 Pioneers over her 7 innings of work.
The Pioneers fell to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in MonDak Conference play. They are scheduled to play host to Dawson CC on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 and 3:00 PM. The Wildcats are 16-8 overall and 3-1 in MonDak Conference play.