The MCC Pioneer softball team played 3 games on Saturday in Glendive, MT for the Region XIII Playoffs. The first game victory over Williston State moved the Pioneers to the Championship round against Dawson. MCC took the 1st game against the Buccaneers to set up a winner take all finale for the championship. This time, Dawson would rally from a 4- run deficit to take a 11-7 decision for the title. 

Game 1 - Pioneers 9... Williston State 1 (5 Innings)

The Pioneers put up 6 runs in the 3rd inning to break open a close game and eventually defeat Williston State 9-1 to move back in to the championship round. 

Williston got their only run of the game in the 1st inning. MCC answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the 1st on an Addison Sanders (3B - Idaho Falls, ID) RBI single. 

The Pioneers picked up 2 runs in the 2nd inning with both runs coming on a Teton defensive error. All 6 Pioneer runs in the 3rd inning came with 2 outs. Arin Eaton (CF - Belgrade, MT) had a 2 RBI single and that was followed by a bases clearing 3 RBI double from Brooke Richardson (1B - Helena, MT). Dalilah Hernandez had a RBI single to give the Pioneers a 9-1 lead that would hold up until the 5th and final inning. 

Rylynn Krein (Fergus Falls, MN) pitched complete game 5 innings (R, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) to pick up the win. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers had 7 hits (2B) and the Tetons had 4 hits.
• Williston State had 3 errors and MCC had 1.
• Pioneer batters struck out 4 times, walked 7 times, and had on hit batsman. 
• Williston batters struck out twice and walked twice. 
• MCC had 5 stolen bases and Williston had 1. s

Game 2 - Pioneers 12... Dawson 4 (1st Championship Game)

Dalilah Hernandez (2B - Laurel, MT) connected on 2 home runs and had a double in a 3-4 effort at the plate that included 4 RBI as MCC kept their season alive with a 12-4 win over Dawson in the 1st championship game. The Pioneer victory meant there would be a winner take all game for the Region XIII Championship.

Dawson scored 1st with a run in the bottom of the 1st inning. MCC followed that with 4 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. Rian Ferriter (3B - Butte, MT) led the inning off with a solo home run. Hernandez doubled and then scored on a ground out. Arin Eaton and Addison Sanders had back to back RBI singles for a 4-1 lead.

The Buccaneers would get 2 runs in the 3rd inning and another in the 4th to tie the game 4-4.

The game stayed tied until the top of the 6th when the MCC Pioneers would plate 8 runs to secure victory. Hernandez homered to lead off the inning. Malory Webb (SS - Idaho Falls, ID) delivered a 2 RBI single and Eaton followed that with a RBI double for a 8-4 lead. Brooke Richardson had a RBI single and then for the 2nd time in the inning, Hernandez delivered a home run. Her home run came with 2 Pioneers on base and gave MCC a 12-4 lead that would hold up. 

Krein pitched again for the Pioneers and went a complete game 6 innings (4 R, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 SO). 

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers had 14 hits (3 HR, 4 2B). The Buccaneers had 9 hits (HR).
• Each team had 2 errors.
• Pioneer batters struck out 5 times.
• Buccaneer batters struck out 3 times and were hit by pitch once. 
• There were no stolen bases.

Game 3 - Pioneers 7... Dawson 11 (2nd Championship Game)

The Pioneers raced out to a 6-2 lead but Dawson would score 6 runs in the top of the 4th inning and then after the Pioneers cut the lead to 8-7, the Buccaneers would pick up 3 runs in the top of the 7th to take home the victory. 

MCC got on the board with a run in the 1st inning. Malory Webb scored after a Dawson error on an Eaton bunt. 

Dawson took a 2-1 lead with 2 runs in the top of the 3rd. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Pioneers would plate 5 tuns to take their 6-2 lead. Brooke Richardson had a 2 RBI single and Hernandez had a RBI single. With the bases loaded, Adrie Mortensen drew a walk to give MCC a 5-2 lead. Hernandez scored on a Brylee Lowell groundout. 

All 6 Dawson runs in the top of the 4th inning came with 2 outs. 

MCC cut the lead to 8-7 in the 6th inning on a Richardson RBI single. MCC had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs and could not push in the tying or go ahead runs. 

Rylie Schlepp (Helena, MT) got the pitching start and completed 3.2 innings (8 R, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, SO) and Rian Ferriter took the next 2.1 innings (3 R, 5 H). Rylynn Krein finished the final inning (H).

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers had 14 hits (2B) and the Bucs had 13 hits (HR, 2 2B).
• Each team had 2 errors.
• Pioneer batters struck out 3 times and walked twice.
• Bucs batters struck out once and walked 3 times.
• MCC had the only stolen base. 

The Pioneer season ends with a 33-16 record. Dawson moves on to the North Plains District championship next weekend.