The Pioneers have had high scoring games this season, but most of them were on the backs on really high walk totals and defensive mistakes by the other team. That was not the case last night in Casper, Wyoming, as Western Nebraska unloaded an offensive onslaught against the Casper Horseheads by winning 17-4 in game one of the series. The Pios put together 20 total hits compared to just 9 hits for Casper and ran away with this one early in the game.
Western Nebraska jumped out of the gate hot by chasing the starter out of the game, scoring 8 runs, and batting around in the top of the first inning, The Pios offense saw RBI hits from JT Waldon, Bryan Webb, Clay Cutter, Kelen Rutz, and then saw a 2-run shot to left field from Eric Smelko before the Horseheads found the first 3 outs.
Not only would the Pios have a fantastic day at the plate, but they also got one on the mound. Starter Carson Ohl didn’t allow a hit through the first 3.2 innings, and ended his day going 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 earned runs while tallying 4 strikeouts.
He would get even more run support in the 6th, as the Pios would put 6 more on the board after Bryan Webb picked up his team leading 15th RBI, and Tyler Davis, and Clay Cutter, and Eric Smelko drove in runs as well. The inning would be topped off by a 2-run home run by Jon Ponder, his first of the year, and the Pios would lead 14-3 through 7.
The Pios would get two more in the 8th, Ryan Reynolds would throw his first inning as a Pioneer, and Derek Brown followed him by throwing a scoreless inning to close it out. The Taco John’s Player of the Game was Eric Smelko, who finished a double shy of the cycle and had a 3-5, 3 RBI day at the dish. Pioneers would win 17-4, advance to 13-5 on the season, and hop into sole possession of 2nd place in the Clark Division. Game 2 is Wednesday night at Mike Lansing Field, with first pitch at 6:35 and the broadcast starting at 6:20 on KNEB.
