The Western Nebraska Pioneers took on the Fremont Moo at Oregon Trail Park Stadium on July 27, where there were 682 people in attendance. The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, where the Fremont Moo struck first, scoring a run by Zech Samayoa, giving them a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The Pioneers answered back at the bottom of the fourth with a run of their own by Jace Jeremiah. The Pioneers then ran away with the game in the later innings, giving them a win with a final score of Pioneers 6, Fremont 1.
The game was 0-0 for the first four innings until Fremont’s Ian Graf hit a double, allowing Samayoa to score. The Pioneers had answered with Tyler Mead hitting a fly out to the center field, allowing Jeremiah to score, and Mead had been put out for out number three, making the score 1-1.
The top of the fifth had been scoreless for Fremont. Jerson Morales was pitching for the Pioneers and faced off against Zane Skansi, who had been put out on a 6-3 count for the first out. Austin Baskin hit a fly out to the center field and was put out for out number two. Tyler Harrington hit a fly out to the right field and was put out for out number three.
At the bottom of the fifth, there had been one hit but no runs scored by the Pioneers. Evan Panjwani was pitching for Fremont and faced off against Connor Doughty, who hit a single and made it to first base. Stevie Hom was struck out for out number one. Eric Smelko hit a fielder’s choice and advanced to first base, while Doughty ran to third base. Ryan Callahan was struck out for out number two. Smelko stole second after a wild pitch, and Jeremiah walked to first after an intentional walk. Alex Zerfass was then struck out for out number three.
At the top of the sixth, Samayoa hit a fly out to the center field, being put out for out number one. Bentley Boekhout walked to first base after ball four. Jason Axelberg hit a fly out to the center field for out number two. Graf hit a single, allowing Boekhout to advance to second and then ran to third due to an error committed by the left fielder. Fremont subs in Jerson Morales for Nartker on the mound. Kanin Dodge hit a fly out to the right field and was put out for out number three.
At the bottom of the sixth, the Pioneers went on a scoring frenzy. Hom hit a single that allowed PK Walsh and Mead to score. Fremont subbed in Colby Harrison for Panjwani on the mound. Smelko hit a single to enable Doughty to score. Hom then scored off a sacrifice fly to center field by Callahan. Giving the Pioneers a commanding lead of 5-1.
Fremont did not have an answer for the Pioneers at the top of the seventh. At the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers had two hits and one run. Zerfass had scored off of a sacrifice fly to center field by Walsh, making the score 6-1 which would be the game’s final score.
The winning pitcher was Morales, who pitched for 2.1 innings allowing two hits, three walks and striking out three. The game’s losing pitcher was Panjwani, who threw for 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, five walks and striking out four.
Fremont and the Pioneers each had a total of 11 hits. Graf and Austin Baskin led Fremont in hits with three a piece and Graf three for four at-bats. Hom, Walsh, Smelko and Isaac Lopez led the Pioneers in hits with two each. Walsh had gone two for three in at-bats.
