The Elmira Pioneers dropped to 1-3 on its young season, losing to the Newark Pilots 9-6. With the victory Newark improves to 2-1 on the season.

Newark scored first in the ballgame in the 1st inning. Pilot catcher Gabe Levanti singled off Pioneers starting pitcher Justin Lewis to bring home shortstop Cody Wiktorski, who tripled in the inning. Five batters later, Levanti scored when Lewis gave up a run on a pass ball.

Elmira answered in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own . Infielder Tommy Mirabelli tripled to bring home left fielder Will LaRue from first. Mirabelli then scored on a Dalton Hoiles sacrifice fly.

The teams traded runs until the bottom of the third when Hoiles scored on a two out double by second baseman Jordan Bishop to give the Pioneers a four to three lead. Elmira took a five to three lead on a Christian Santisteban single in the fourth inning.

In the seventh inning Newark came back and tied the game after an error by Mirabelli at shortstop scored Pilot first baseman Corey Lerche and single by Levanti scored Newark second baseman Ryan Lynch.

In the ninth inning the Pilots blew the game wide open. Kyle Norman reached base on a single off right handed pitcher Garrett Schilling and advanced to second on an error by center fielder Justin Hayes. Wiktorski then hit a double to bring home Norman. Doubles by Levanti and right fielder Anthony Spina gave the Pilots a nine to five lead.

Elmira in its half of the ninth scored a run off a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Sam Clark, but that one run was all they got back.

The winning pitcher in relief was Michael Schuermann. The left handed pitcher threw one half of an inning and gave up a run. The losing pitcher was Schilling who went two innings and gave up four runs, one of the runs earned, and struck out three batters. The save was made by Vinny Martin, who pitched an inning in relief for Newark.

The Pioneers will travel to Newark tomorrow to face the Pilots again. Start time is scheduled 7:05 P.M.