Pioneers plate 46 runs in four game sweep of Missionaries

The Pioneers won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader at Whitman, 12-5 and 12-4. Ryan Kostecka (’11) had three hits, driving in four runs for the Pioneers.

In game one, the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Sami Morgan (’10) led off the inning singling to short. The Pioneers loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batsmen. With two outs, Mike Orr (’08) hit a ball to right field that was bobbled by the right fielder, allowing three runs to score.

The Missionaries scored one run in the sixth and three in the seventh. The Pioneers answered with an eventful eighth inning in which they sent 12 men to bat, plating eight runs on just four hits, including a two-RBI double from Roland Greene (’11) and a two-RBI triple by Ryan Kostecka.

Dan Meehan (’08) got the win, working seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.

In game two, the Pioneers put forth a steady stream of offense, scoring 12 runs on 17 hits in their 12-4 victory. They scored their first run in the second inning. Neal Finch (’09) hit a one-out single. Jordan Shibata (’08) singled to drive him in.

The Pioneers scored five runs in the seventh. Chris Estrella hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot to start the scoring. The Pioneers loaded the bases later in the inning, with Jordan Shibata hitting a double to drive in two more runs.

The Pioneers added two more runs in the eighth. Ryan Kostecka hit his second triple of the day to make it an 11-3 game.

Alex St. Pierre (’11) got his first collegiate victory. St. Pierre worked six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. He walked four and struck out five. Evan Fairmont (’09) earned the save, working three innings, allowing just one run on four hits.

Offensively, Neal Finch went 4-5 in the second game, driving in two runs, scoring three. Ryan Kostecka had three hits in the two games, going 3-7 with a pair of triples, driving in four runs. Sami Morgan was 3-5 with three runs scored in the first game.

The Pioneer baseball team finished off their four-game sweep of the Whitman Missionaries with 8-3 and 14-4 Sunday afternoon.

Jordan Shibata led off the game with a solo home run. The Pioneers added three more home runs in the second. Chris Estrella walked to start the second. After Estrella stole second, Roland Greene scored him on a single to left. Hits by Orr and Shibata helped plate the other two and to put the Pioneers up 4-0.

Whitman scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth off Pioneer starter Tucker Laurence (‘11), but the Pioneers countered and then some in the top of the seventh. Ryan Kostecka hit a leadoff double, Jordan Shibata walked and Sami Morgan reached on a bunt single to load the bases. AJ Brown hit his second home run of the season, a grand slam, to give the Pioneers an 8-2 lead. The Missionaries scored a lone run in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough. Laurence improved to 5-0 with the Pios 8--3 victory.

In game two, it was Jordan Smiley (’08) on the mound, earning his first victory of the season in the Pioneers’ 14-4 victory over the Missionaries. TJ Witkowski (’10) drove in the first run of the game in the first inning, doubling in Jordan Shibata. Chris Estrella drove in three runs in the third inning with one swing of the bat, hitting his second home run of the season. AJ Brown hit his second home run of the day in the sixth inning, a lead-off solo shot in the sixth. The Pioneers took advantage of three free passes in the seventh inning to add another three runs, winning by a score of 14-4.

Smiley worked the first six innings, allowing just three hits and three earned runs. He walked four and struck out three. David LaDouceur (’11) worked a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit and walking one. Chris Estrella drove in four of the Pioneer runs, going 2-4, scoring twice.

With the wins, the Pioneers improve to 9-15 (7-13 NWC). The Pioneers will be at home this weekend, hosting the Puget Sound Loggers starting at noon on Saturday.