Game 1 - Pioneers 10... Lumberjacks 3
The Pioneer softball team rallied from an 0-3 deficit with 10 unanswered runs over the final 4 innings to defeat Dakota College at Bottineau 10-3 in game 1 on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers failed to get a hit in the first 3 innings as DCB pitcher Randee Charlo had the Pioneer hitters stumped with 7 early strikeouts. Things took a turn for the better for MCC in the top of the 4th as LF Liz Ybarra (Belgrade, MT) got the 1st Pioneer hit of the game and CF Skyler Higgs followed that with a home run to cut the Lumberjack lead to 3-2.
3B Megan Toplovich (Great Falls, MT) gave the Pioneers the momentum for good with a solo blast to tie the game at 3-3 to lead off the 5th. 1B Lili Nihi (Moanalua, HI) was hit by a pitch and P Alex Carr walked. C HaiLeigh Davis (Shepherd, MT) then reached on a Bottineau error that scored Nihi and Carr for a 5-3 Pioneer lead. Liz Ybarra (3-4, 1 RBI, 2 R) drove in Davis and the Pioneers led 6-3.
The Pioneers put things away in the 7th inning when Davis and Ybarra reached base on singles and Higgs (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R) added another RBI with a single to centerfield. Toplovich was hit by a pitch to load the bases with 2 outs and Nihi (1-1, 2 RBI) singled to make thes score 9-3. Mars Weaver (Rexburg, ID) drew a pinch hit walk to load the bases and P Alex Carr (Idaho Falls, ID) walked for the final margin of 10-3.
Madi Henry (Spanish Fork, UT) started for MCC and went 2.2 innings (3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) before giving way to Alex Carr. Carr finished the game in strong fashion going 4.1 innings (0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) for MCC.
Game 2 - Pioneers 9... Lumberjacks 7
Game 2 started very similar to game 1 as the Pioneers found themselves in a 3-0 hole going to the 4th inning. MCC plated 5 runs in the 4th and scored in each of the next 3 innings before holding on to a 9-7 win in game 2 on Saturday.
The 4th inning started with a single by Lili Nihi and then SS Megan Johnson (Preston, ID) hit a double off of the wall in centerfield. Sierra John (Idaho Falls, ID) whacked another double to drive in 2 RBI and cut the lead to 3-2. The Lumberjacks then recorded 2 quick outs before HaiLeigh Davis walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. DP Alexa Lewis (Bozeman, MT) was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Liz Ybarra hit a hard 2 RBI single to centerfield to give MCC its first lead of the game at 4-3. Skylar Higgs walked to load the bases and Lewis then scored on a passed ball for a 5-3 Pioneer lead.
The Pioneers added another run in the 5th on a Abby Johnson doubled to center with 1 out. Johnson stole 3rd and HaiLeigh Davis walked to put runners on the corners. Alexa Lewis then singled to bring in a run and give the Pioneers a 6-3 lead. The Lumberjacks added a run in the bottom of the 5th to cut lead to 6-4.
In the top of the 6th, Skyler Higgs doubled and was moved to 3rd on a ground out by Nihi. Megan Johnson executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Higgs. Abby Johnson hit an RBI double to provide some cushion for MCC at 8-4. The final Pioneer run came after Alexa Lewis was hit by a pitch and Liz Ybarra drove her in with an RBI double.
Bottineau scored 3 in the 7th but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers completed the sweep 9-7. Megan Johnson (3-4, 2B, RBI, R), Abby Johnson (2-3, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R), and Skyler Higgs (2-4, 1 R) had hot bats for MCC.
MCC used 3 pitchers in game 2 as Hazel Eaton (Belgrade, MT) returned to the circle after being sidelined with an injury. Eaton went 3.0 innings (3 R, 4 H, 1 BB) to get some work in before the MonDak playoffs. Madi Henry then went 2.1 innings (1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 SO) before giving way to Alex Carr for the final 1.2 innings. Carr (3 R, 3 H) finished the game for the Pioneers.