Game 1 - Pioneers 5... Madonna University JV 11

Errors were the underlying story of the 1st game of the MCC Pioneer softball road trip to Tucson, Arizona. The Pioneers appeared to have a bit of jet lag on Saturday afternoon as they committed 8 errors overall and Madonna scored 7 runs in the 5th inning to build an 11-1 lead over MCC before the Pioneers followed that with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning but could not get any closer. 

Madonna scored a run in the top of the 1st and again in the top of the 3rd before getting 2 in the 4th and 7 in the 5th inning. 

The Pioneers picked up their 1st run of the game in the bottom of the 4th inning after a Cassidy Bagnell (CF - Frenchtown, MT) single was followed with one out by a single by Brooke Richardson (1B - Helena, MT) and Bagnell subsequently scored on a wild pitch with 2 outs. 

Trailing 11-1 in the 5th and the game on the line, the Pioneers picked up 4 runs to stay in the game. With one out, Khloey Robinson (LF - Belgrade, MT) singled and moved to second on a walk by Isabelle Adams (PH - Park City, MT). Arin Eaton (RF - Belgrade, MT) singled to load the bases and Robinson scored on a ground out by Shannon Nelson (SS - Livingston, MT). Bagnell then doubled to drive in 2 Pioneer runs and that was followed with a double by Taylor Feller (C - Laurel, MT) to cut the lead to 11-5. The Pioneers could not get any closer over the next 2 innings. 

Payton Whitehead (Joliet, MT) got the start in the circle and pitched 4 innings (9 H, 9 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) and gave way to Mackenzie Foss (Libby, MT) for the final 3 innings (3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO). 

Bagnell was 3-4 (2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Richardson was 2-4 (SO) and were the only Pioneers with multiple hits.

Inside the Box Score

• MCC had 9 hits including 3 doubles. 
• Madonna had 12 hits with 3 doubles. 
• The Pioneers committed 8 errors and Madonna had 0. 
• Pioneer pitchers issued 5 walks and Madonna pitchers issued 3 walks. 
• Each team had one stolen base. 

Game 2 - Pioneers 5... Tabor JV 6

A back and forth affair ended on a sour note on Saturday afternoon as Tabor JV scored a run in the bottom of the 6th to break a 5-5 tie and held on for a 6-5 win as the Pioneers dropped game 2 in Tucson, Arizona. 

The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the 1st after Shannon Nelson singled, both Cassidy Bagnell and Taylor Feller walked to load the bases. Brooke Richardson grounded in to a fielder's choice and Nelson was thrown out at home. Lily Bolin (DP - Belgrade, MT) singled to drive in Bagnell and Feller scored on an errant throw. 

Tabor tacked on 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st and then took a 5-2 lead with 3 runs in the 2nd. The Pioneers tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the 4th starting with back to back walks by Dalilah Hernandez and Sidney Rusdal (RF - Libby, MT). Viannca Martin (LF - Billings, MT) bunted safely to load the bases. With one out, Bagnell singled to score 2 runs. and then Shannon Nelson who had advanced to 3rd after a fielder's choice and some Tabor throwing errors scored on a passed ball to tie the game 5-5. Tabor pushed in the go ahead run in the 6th inning and the Pioneers were shut out the rest of the way. 

Arin Eaton got the pitching start and pitched a complete game 6 innings (8 H, 6 R, 2 ER, BB, SO) and hit 2 Tabor batters. 

Shannon Nelson was 2-4 (R) and Viannca Martin was 2-3 (R). Bolin and Bagnell had 2 RBI each. 

Inside the Box Score

• Both teams had 8 hits in the game and neither team had an extra base hit. 
• Pioneer batters struck out 3 times and Tabor batters only 1. 
• MCC had 3 errors and Tabor had 2.
• Of the 17 runs that the Pioneers gave up on Saturday, 12 of those runs were unearned. 
• The Pioneers had the only stolen base in the game. 

MCC falls to 3-3 and will resume play in Arizona on Monday with a doubleheader against Pima CC at 3:30 and 6:00 PM MST.