Game 3 - Pioneers 12... Western Nebraska 6

The 5th inning was the charm for the MCC Pioneers on Wednesday afternoon in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. With the score tied at 3-3 going to the top of the 5th, the Pioneers plated 8 runners to build a 12-3 lead and hung on for a 12-6 win in game 3 of 4 game series. 

Pioneer batters cracked 19 hits in the game including 7 batters with multiple hits. Every Pioneer hit was a single with the exception of a double off of the bat of Khloey Robinson (LF - Belgrade, MT). Robinson was 3-3 with a RBI and 2 runs scored. The Pioneers picked up a run in the top of the 1st inning and that run was matched by WNCC. MCC then scored 2 in the 4th inning and that was also matched by the Cougars. The Cougars countered the 8-run 5th inning with 3 of their own and the Pioneers got an insurance run in the top of the 7th. 

Malory Webb (SS - Idaho Falls, ID) was 3-4 (3 R, RBI, BB) and Adrie Mortensen (C - Rexburg, ID) was also 3-4 (2 RBI, R). Lily Bolin (1B - Belgrade, MT) matched the previous with a 3-4 (R, RBI) effort. Arin Eaton (CF - Belgrade, MT) was 2-4 (R, RBI, BB) as was Rylynn Krein (P - Fergus Falls, MN) (3 RBI, R, BB). Dalilah Hernandez (2B - Laurel, MT) was 2-3 (RBI, 2 R). Viannca Martin (RF - Billings, MT) had the other hit for MCC and also had a RBI and scored a run. 

Krein pitched a complete game 7 innings (11 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO).

Inside the Box Score

• MCC had 19 hits (18 singles) and Western Nebraska had 11 hits (5 2B, 2 3B).
• Pioneer batters struck out just once and WNCC batters struck out 5 times.
• Pioneer pitchers issued 5 walks and Cougar pitchers issued 5 walks.
• WNCC had one stolen base and MCC had one as well.
• Western Nebraska committed 2 errors and the Pioneers had none.

Game 4 - Pioneers 8... Western Nebraska 10

The MCC Pioneers built themselves a 8-2 lead after 3.5 innings but the home team Cougars rallied with 6 runs to tie the game 8-8 in the bottom of the 4th and then scored 2 in the bottom of the 6th to squeak out the 10-8 win and split the weekday series in windy Scottsbluff.

Addison Sanders (3B - Idaho Falls, ID) had a 3-4 (2 RBI) effort at the plate and Khloey Robinson stayed hot with a 3-4 (R, RBI) game. Lily Bolin, Rylynn Krein, and Sierra Tuss (2B - Belgrade, MT) each had 2 hits for MCC. Tuss and Krein each delivered 2 RBI. 

Rian Ferriter (Butte, MT) pitched game 4 for the Pioneers and went 3.1 innings (9 H, 7 R, 3 BB, SO). She was relieved by Rylie Schlepp for the final 2.2 innings (7 H, 3 R, BB, SO)

Inside the Box Score

• MCC had 16 hits (15 singles) and Western Nebraska had 16 hits (7 2B).
• Each team only struck out 2 times.
• Pioneer pitchers issued 4 walks and Cougar pitchers issued 3 walks.
• WNCC had one stolen base and MCC had none.
• Neither team committed an error. 

The 6-2 Pioneers will now head to Tucson, AZ for their annual spring break trip. They will play 12 games in Tucson starting with Madonna University JV on Saturday, March 1 at 9:00 AM.