Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Pioneers Drop Two Home Games to NDSCS

Pioneers Drop Two Home Games to NDSCS
Posted: Mar 30, 2024

Game 1 - Pioneers 2... NDSCS Wildcats 6

The MCC Pioneers could not get their bats going on a cold afternoon at Mid-Rivers Field in Miles City, MT. Defending DIII National Champion NDSCS took advantage of a 3-4 (HR, 3 RBI) effort from Avery Martin and NDSCS pitchers struck out 9 Pioneers in a 6-2 win on Friday. 

Pioneer catcher Taylor Feller (Laurel, MT) got the game off on the right foot with a solo home run in the top of the 1st inning. NDSCS answered with a run in the bottom of the 1st to tie the game up and then took the lead for good with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Pioneers cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the top of the 3rd after a Shannon Nelson (SS - Livingston, MT) single and an RBI single from Feller. 

The Pioneers would not get any closer as NDSCS picked up another run in the bottom of the 3rd and 2 more in the 4th inning while Wildcat pitchers kept MCC scoreless the rest of the way.

Peyton Whitehead (Joliet, MT) pitched a complete game 7 innings for the Pioneers. Whitehead gave up 8 hits and 6 runs (5 earned). She walked one batter and struck out 4.

Inside the Box Score

  • Pioneer batters 4-8 did not get a hit.
  • Pioneer batters struck out 9 times and NDSCS batters struck out only 4.
  • MCC had one stolen base and NDSCS had 5.
  • MCC committed 2 errors and NDSCS had 1.

 

Game 2 - Pioneers 7... NDSCS Wildcats 15 (5 Innings)

NDSCS used the long ball and scored in every inning to take a 15-7 victory in game 2 on Friday afternoon. 

Avery Martin cracked 3 home runs and Caitlyn Dannenfelzer hit 2 more home runs as NDSCS piled up 14 hits in the game. Emma Johnson, Jayden Breiland, and Manny Diara homered as well in a balanced offensive attack. 

Just like in game 1, the Pioneers got on the board early with 2 runs in the top of the 1st. Cassidy Bagnell (CF - Frenchtown, MT) hit a one out single to centerfield and the scored on a 2-out double from Brooke Richardson (1B - Helena, MT). Richardson then scored on an RBI single from Dalilah Hernandez (2B - Laurel, MT). NDSCS quickly answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st on the strength of 2 home runs. 

The Wildcats then broke the game open with 5 runs in the 2nd inning and 3 more in the 3rd inning to take a 11-2 lead. The Pioneers tried to get back in the game with 5 runs in the top of the 4th to cut the lead to 11-7. The 5 run inning all came with 2 outs. Hernandez singled and then Khloey Robinson (LF - Belgrade, MT) reached base on an error and Lily Bolin (Billings, MT) cracked a 3-run home run. Megan Brownson (Billings, MT) walked and Arin Eaton (RF - Belgrade, MT) hit another home run to get the Pioneers back in the game. 

NDSCS would quickly answer with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning and then Martin ended the game in the 5th with her 3rd home run. 

Arin Eaton started the game in the circle an pitched 1.1 innings (5 H, 8 R, BB, 3 SO) and was replaced by Rian Ferriter (Butte, MT) for the final 2.2 innings (9 H, 7 R, BB, 2 SO).

Inisde the Box Score

  • The Pioneers had only 6 hits and the Wildcats had 14.
  • Each team committed one error. 
  • Pioneer batters struck out 11 times and Wildcat batters struck out only 5 times. 
  • MCC did not have a stolen base and NDSCS had 3. 

The Pioneers are now 4-2 in MonDak Conference play and 10-7 overall. NDSCS is 19-7 overall and 2-0 in MonDak Conference play. The teams will play 2 games again Saturday starting at 1:00 PM in Miles City.