ELMIRA, NY-In a doubleheader against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, the Elmira Pioneers began the night by resuming a game that had been rained out in the second inning on June 28^th and would then play another nine inning game.

Game One- The Pioneers got to work first in the bottom of the second after Tommy Mirabelli (Kansas) hit a double near the warning track in centerfield. Josh Lovelady (Mississippi State) then stepped up and hit a single, moving Mirabelli over. Brian Barefoot (Louisiana-Monroe) then hit an RBI single to give the Pioneers the lead.

The next scoring would happen in the seventh inning, when Elmira was able to score one additional run. Brian Barefoot singled in Mirabelli for the second time in the game, giving the game its final score of 2-0.

Earning the win for Elmira would be Justin Lewis (Kentucky), who pitched the entire remainder of the game after taking over for Kyano Cummings (Siena) following a rain delay. He gave up only four hits, and struck out six in seven and two-thirds innings of work. Taking the loss for the Diamond Dawgs would be Payton Coddou (Louisiana-Monroe), who started for Mohawk Valley on the 28^th and resumed his duties tonight for a complete nine innings. He struckout six as well, but gave up eleven hits in the process only allowing two runs.

Brian Barefoot had a stellar night in game one. Barefoot went three for three at the plate and garnered both of the game’s RBIs. Coming into the night, Barefoot was only 3 for 30.

Game Two- The next game got underway after a short break, as the Pioneers would play Mohawk Valley again in a full nine inning game. The Pioneers would strike first, scoring two runs in the second inning. Keegan Maronpot (Wake Forest) would start things off with a single to right field. Troy Squires (Kentucky) would then hit a successful bunt to move to first and advance Maronpot. Both runners would advance on a sacrifice bunt, before Tim Delph (Florida State) stepped up and hit a single to bring Maronpot home.

The second run would come home on a series of fielding errors after Delph attempted to steal second. A misthrow would move him to third, and another would allow Squires to come home. This would make the lead 2-0 in Elmira’s favor.

The Diamond Dawgs would respond quickly and regain the lead, after bases were loaded starting with a single from Brian Cox (Le Moyne). Anthony Herrera (Louisiana-Monroe) then stepped up for a deep double, and Elmira pitcher Nate Matheson (Old Dominion) walked Matt Pagano (Marist). Thomas Walraven (New Haven) then stepped up for a single to bring home both Herrera and Cox. Sam Machonis (Florida Southern) would bring in the inning’s final run on a controversial call that ultimately gave Elmira two tag outs and led to the ejection of the Mohawk coach, Blake Nation.

One run would come in for the Diamond Dawgs in the fourth from Colin Hawk (Indianapolis). Hawk was walked, and after stealing second, he was brought home on an error from Christian Santisteban, extending the Mohawk Valley lead to 4-2.

The score wasn’t final for the Diamond Dawgs, who would strike again only an inning later. Machonis would hit a single, and move over on a pitch that got away from Elmira catcher Troy Squires. He would then come home on a single from Chris Rave (Herkimer CC), extending their lead again. 

Fighting back in the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers would score a run of their own off of play from Tim Delph, who was walked to reach base. A fielding error would allow Delph, who was attempting to steal second, to move over to third. He would be brought home on a sacrifice fly from Will Larue (Xavier). This made the scoe 5-3.

The Pioneers would edge closer again in the sixth off a single from left fielder Rob Perteet (Samford). Perteet would be moved over off a Christian Santisteban walk. Perteet would come home on a double from Squires down the third base line, bringing the Pioneers within one.

The Pioneers would tie the game in the eighth after walks for Hayden Kelly (Florida State) and Maronpot by Diamond Dawg reliever Herrera. Kelly’s pinch runner Justin Hayes scored after an additional fielding error allowed Squires to reach.

With the ball game tied in the bottom of the ninth, the pressure was on for the Pioneers. Tim Delph walked on a great at bat, and was moved over on a sacrifice bunt from Larue. After Tommy Mirabelli came in to pinch run for Delph, Hillson stepped up for a walk off single to give the Pioneers the win, 6-5.

Getting the win for the Pioneers is Garrett Schilling (Xavier), who pitched the final inning of the game for the Pioneers. Taking the loss for Mohawk Valley was Zachary Vennaro (Monroe CC), who gave up the game winning single to Taylor Hillson.