The Western Nebraska Pioneers took on the Badlands Big Sticks July 24, where The Pioneers got the win with a final score of Pioneers 9, Big Sticks 3.
The Pioneers struck first in the top of the first, where PK Walsh hit one out of the park for a home run allowing Eric Smelko and himself to score two runs. The Pioneers outfield then got some quick outs not allowing the Big Sticks get anything going with where they putout Sean Dee for out number one and Griffin Allen struck out Gunnar Hansen and Cory Brownson. At the top of the second Jason Luke scored after Smelko hit a sacrifice fly to center field bringing the score to 3-0.
The Big Sticks answered back at the bottom of the second inning scoring three runs, where Campbell Credeur scores off a single by Kobe Krenz then Ethan Babcock-Barrie and Krenz score off a double by Cade Ostenson bringing the game to a tie of 3-3. Not much happened third inning, where each team managed to collect one hit a piece keep the score at a tie until the bottom of the sixth.
Jason Luke scored after Connor Doughty hit a double. The Pioneers regained the lead with a score of 4-3. The Pioneers then came in scoring three more runs in the top of the seventh, where Isaac Lopez scored after Tyler Mead hit a double. Alex Zerfass and Mead both score off of a single by Luke taking a commanding lead of 7-3.
The Big Sticks could not manage to get anything done to answer in the seventh inning, where Jake Brill was putout on a fly out to left field then Daniel Rogers gets putout to a fly out to center field and Krenz gets putout to a fly out to the shortstop for out number three. The team remained tied throughout the eighth inning and The Pioneers scored two more runs at the top of the ninth. Ryan Callahan hit one out of the park allowing Doughty and himself to score with a home run bringing the score to 9-3. The Pioneers took the win after the Big Sticks could not answer at the bottom of the ninth.
The winning pitcher was Allen who pitched for eight innings allowing four hits three runs eight strike outs and one walk.
The losing pitcher of the game was Justin Butz who threw for five innings allowing seven hits four runs striking out two and walking three. The Pioneers had 12 hits compared to the Big Sticks four, where Luke, Smelko and Doughty led the Pioneers in hits with two each.