Pioneers 12... Bismarck State 4 (4 Innings) - Saturday, February 11
The 2023 version of the MCC Pioneers didn't waste any time getting their bats going as they opened the season pounding out 11 hits and scoring 12 runs in a win over Bismarck State. Leftfielder Liz Ybarra (Belgrade, MT) went 3-3 (1B, 2B, 3B) and drove in 3 runs while centerfielder Skyler Higgs (Livingston, MT) was 2-3 (2B, 3B) and also drive in 3 runs to lead the offensive charge. 1B Hazel Eaton (Belgrade, MT) had a 2-3 (1B, 3B) and an RBI. Catcher HaiLeigh Davis (Shepherd, MT) was 1-3 at the plate and had a 2 RBI double.
MCC scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd and then followed that with 7 more in the bottom of the 4th to end the game early due to the 8-run rule.
Alex Carr (Idaho Falls, ID) got the start in the circle and pitched 4 innings (4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 SO) to get the win.
Pioneers 9... Williston State 0 (5 Innings) - Saturday, February 11
Freshman Payton Whitehead (Joliet, MT) made the most of her first career start in the circle twirling a complete game 1-hit shutout to blank Williston State. Whitehead (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO) had great command from start to finish as the 3 runs they scored in the 2nd inning would prove to be more than enough for the win.
Skyler Higgs had another strong game at the plate going 2-3 (2 2B, 1 RBI) and fellow Livingston native Shannon Nelson also cranked out a 2-3 effort that included a run and RBI. Freshman Isabelle Adams (Park City, MT) smacked a solo home run in her 1st collegiate at bat. Liz Ybarra had an RBI and scored 2 runs and Megan Johnson (Preston, ID) had an RBI double. Freshman Arin Eaton (Belgrade, MT) doubled in her 1st at bat as a Pioneer.
Pioneers 8... Lake Region State 6 (5 Innings) - Sunday, February 12
Skyler Higgs and Freshman 3B Taylor Feller (Laurel, MT) each had two hits and combined for 5 RBI as the Pioneers won their 3rd consecutive game with a 8-6 win over Lake Region State College Sunday morning in Minot. Higgs was 2-2 including a double and 3 RBI while Feller was 2-3 with 2 doubles. RF Reed Johnson (Columbus, MT) belted a solo home run and scored twice in the win. The Pioneers walked 9 times and Liz Ybarra had a 2 RBI double as well in the win.
Hazel Eaton took to the circle pitching 4 innings (5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 3 SO) as the Pioneers held on late after building a 8-3 lead after 3 innings before seeing the Royals scored 1 in the 4th and 2 more in the 5th to creep closer but it wasn't enough.
Pioneers 0... NDSCS 1 (7 Innings)
The NDSCS Wildcat pitcher Katelyn Strauss stifled the MCC Pioneer offense with a 1 hit, 18 strikeout performance in the final game of the MonDak Conference Preseason Classic. Strauss pitched a complete game 7 innings (1 H, 3 BB, 18 SO).
Payton Whitehead matched the duo with an excellent performance of her own going 6 IP (3 H, 2 BB, 4 SO) keeping the Pioneers in the game but the Wildcats scored on a passed ball after a Strauss single and then an error by the Pioneers putting runners on 1st and 2nd. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, a Whitehead pitch got by the Pioneer catcher for the only run of the game.
MCC's only hit of the game came on a single by Liz Ybarra. Next up for MCC is their spring break trip to Arizona where they will face Minnesota North College - Vermillion on Saturday, March 4.