Pioneers win slugfest

Pitching or hitting? What would you rather have in championship play? The Pioneers would say both! SMC used four pitchers and some late inning clutch hitting to defeat Potomac State College 11-9 this morning in the first round of the Eastern District Championship. 

SMC jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead over the host in the top of the first on a Elliott Caldwell rbi . Shell McCain added a two run bomb in the top of the fourth and SMC led 3-0. Potomac State added four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead over the third ranked Pioneers. Trailing 5-3 in the top of the sixth the Pioneers evened the score at 5 but Potomac State quickly took the lead back in the bottom of the inning by adding four runs and led 9-5 going into the top of the seventh. The Pioneers cut the lead in half and made if 9-7 after Collin Steagall and Domineke Albert drove in Reid Moman and Caldwell. While SMC chopped into the lead, Ricky Rice and Cody Mincey shut down the 15th ranked Catamounts in the final three innings while the Pioneer bats completed the comeback. SMC took the lead in the top of the 8th scoring three runs on a Matt White rbi triple, Caldwell rbi double, and a McCain rbi single. 

SMC will take on ASA College at 11:00am Saturday morning. 

SMC – 1-0-0-2-0-2-2-3-1----11

PS—    0-0-0-4-1-4-0-0-0-----9

Sp-Jimmy Lindberg- 

       Chase Henry

       Ricky Rice  (WP)

       Cody Mincey (Save)

Leading hitters

Elliott Caldwell- 3-4, 2B- 2 rbi, 3 runs

Shell McCain- 2-4. HR, 3 rbi, run, sb

Domineke Albert- 2-5

Matt White- 3B