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Pioneers Split Games on Day 1 of Region XIII Playoffs

Pioneers Split Games on Day 1 of Region XIII Playoffs
Posted: May 13, 2022

Game 1 - Pioneers 1... Bismarck State 11 (6 Innings)

The Bismarck State Mystics used the strong are of RHP Carter Rost and the long ball to upend the MCC Pioneers 11-1 in 6 innings in the opening round of the Region XIII Tournament on Saturday in Miles City. Rost was dominating on the mound allowing only 2 hits and striking out 9 over the complete game 6 innings. 

Kyle Leapaldt blasted 2 home runs including a grand slam in the 4th inning and had 6 RBI to lead the way offensively for BSC. Nash Crowell was 2-4 (HR, 3 RBI) and Darian Alexander was 3-4 (HR) to help the offense defeat the MonDak Conference Champion Pioneers. 

LF Grant Gabbert (Thorton, CO) had both of the hits for the Pioneers including a double and the only RBI. 

Bridger Erickson (St. Anthony, ID) got the start for MCC and pitched 5.1 innings (11 R, 12 H, BB, 3 SO) before giving way to Josh Banderob for the final 0.2 innings (H). 

Game 2 - Pioneers 11... Dakota County Technical College 8

The Pioneers afforded the Blue Knights a quick 4-0 lead after 1.5 innings but quickly scored 6 runs in the 2nd and 2 more in the 3rd for an 8-4 lead. That lead swelled to 11-5 going to the 9th inning before the Blue Knights cut the lead to 11-8 and had the bases loaded before Patrick Dietz (Manhattan, MT) struck out the final batter to end the game. 

Pioneer bats hit 7 doubles in the game and took advantage of 5 hit by pitches and 3 walks by Blue night pitching. SS Jaden Jordahl (Billings, MT) had a 2-4 effort (3 RBI, R) at the plate and C Takumi Kimoto (Brisbane, Aus) was 3-4 (2B, 2 RBI, 3 R) from the back end of the lineup. RF Ian Krump was the other Pioneer with multiple hits going 2-5 (2B, 2 R). 

CF Jake Lacey (Gillette, WY), Ryota Kusumoto (Qairns, Aus), Tommy O'Connell (Kalispell, MT), and Grant Gabbert added doubles in the game for MCC. Gabbert and Lacey had the other RBI's. 4 of the Pioneer runs were unearned.

Cameron Murphy (Torrington, WY) got the start for MCC and went 7.2 innings (4 R, 12 H, 5 SO) to pick up the win. Noah Aliff (Centralia, WA) pitched 1 inning (3 R, H, 3 BB, 2 HBP, S) and was replaced by Dietz to get the final out. Dietz hit the first batter he faced to load the bases and then recorded a strikout to end the game. 

The Pioneers will face Williston State on Sunday at noon for the chance to play Bismarck State for the Region XIII Championship. The winner of the MCC/WSC game will have to defeat Bismarck State twice to win the title.