Softball: Pioneer falls in extra innings in first game of DH with Bedford

After knocking off Tecumseh last Wednesday, the Pioneer softball team lost a couple competitive games on Monday at Temperance Bedford. The Pioneers fell 4-3 in nine innings in the first game and then lost 8-3 in the nightcap to the Kicking Mules in an SEC Red doubleheader.

Pioneer led 1-0 before Bedford tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. The Pioneers scored two runs in the top of the eighth but the Kicking Mules answered with two in the bottom of the inning.

Bedford won the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth.

Pioneer had six hits while Bedford had eight. Both teams made three errors.

Olivia Guidinger went the distance for the Pioneers. She had six strikeouts, allowed just one earned run and one walk in 8.2 innings.

Ella Roberts (run scored, RBI) and Renee Starosta (RBI) both had two hits for the Pioneers. Alina Mankowski had a double and an RBI.

In the nightcap, Pioneer scored a run in the top of the first but Bedford answered with two in the bottom of the frame. The Kicking Mules scored a run in the second and three more in the fourth before adding runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Pioneer scored twice in the seventh and finished with 10 hits to seven for the home team.

Sarina Zajchowski had five strikeouts in four innings from the circle. She allowed four hits and four walks. Guidinger pitched the final two innings and allowed just one earned run.

Mankowski, Sarina Zajchowski (3-for-4) and Jordan Marion (2-for-4) all had doubles for the Pioneers. Roberts was 2-for-3 with a walk and Brooklynn Pryor had a hit and a walk.