The Powell Pioneers continued the early June schedule with two conference games Sunday, defeating the Gillette Rustlers 5-2 in the first contest before a difficult inning in the second contest proved to be the difference in a 7-6 loss.

POWELL 5, GILLETTE 2

Returning home to continue conference play the Pioneers (7-10 overall, 2-2 Senior North) welcomed in the Rustlers (20-12 overall, 2-2 Senior North).

Despite allowing the bases to be loaded in the top of the first inning, the Pioneers struck first, as a calamity of errors put Powell on the board.

Leadoff hitter Talon Nuss reached on an error by the Rustler third baseman, before another error by the left fielder as he advanced allowed him to score and make it 1-0.

“It’s always good to come out and score first and get momentum on your side,” manager Jason Borders said. “I would’ve liked it to happen with runners on second and third … But that’s always good to see.”

Jordan Loera reached on a walk, and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt before Ben Ostermiller hit a double to score him and make it 2-0.

It took until the third for the Rustlers to answer, as a single and walk put two on with one out.

After a strikeout, a single scored one runner while advancing the other to third, and a wild pitch scored the second run to tie the contest at 2-2.

It didn’t take long for Powell to recapture the lead, as Loera reached on a one out walk.

He stole second and third before Dominik Bieber hit into an error which allowed Loera to score and make it 3-2.

Kolby Gates followed with a walk, and Caden Diaz was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.

Abel Teten singled and scored one before Rowan Diaz was hit by a pitch to score another and make it 5-2.

“When you give up the lead, you can sometimes get down on yourselves and let things happen. That usually does happen to us,” Borders said. “That (response) was good to see.”

Two runners were the most either team could muster in an inning from that point forward, as the Pioneers earned the 5-2 win.

There were more errors than hits between the two teams as the Pioneers and Rustlers had six errors between them, five by the visitors.

Powell outhit Gillette 3-2.

Those hits came from Ostermiller, Teten and Caden, as Ostermiller, Teten and Rowan had the RBIs for Powell.

Ostermiller went 5-1/3, giving up two hits, two earned runs, striking out seven and walking five.

Gates went 1-2-3 in relief, striking out three batters.

“He [Ostermiller] went a lot of full counts; the box score looks a little better than it was. He had three weeks off, didn’t throw great against Sheridan but did throw better on Sunday … Hope he’s got his feet under him and is feeling good,” Borders said. “Kolby threw great in both games. I was really pleased with the way he threw.”

GILLETTE 7, POWELL 6

In the second matchup the Pioneers gave up two baserunners in the first, but didn’t concede a run before getting on the board in the bottom half of the inning.

Nuss walked to lead off, but was out advancing to second on a fielder’s choice on Loera’s contact.

Loera stole second, before scoring on a Bieber double to make it 1-0.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, that lead did not last with a disastrous second inning.

A single and walk put two on, before a sac bunt turned error for the Pioneers that allowed a run to score.

The lead runner stole third, but was eventually picked off for the second out of the inning.

After a steal and wild pitch the new lead runner advanced to third, and a walk followed to put runners on the corners.

Another walk loaded the bases, and another scored a run to make it 2-1.

An error scored another, before another walk made it 4-1.

Two more runs scored on a single, before a double scored one final run as the Pioneers trailed 7-1 heading to the bottom of the second.

“Giving up seven runs is brutal. At least we did it early and had a chance to fight back in that game,” Borders said. “The bad came in that one inning; those other six innings were pretty good baseball. If we can find a way to get rid of those big innings we’ll be in good shape the rest of the summer. I don’t know what causes them. It’s different every game.”

August Teten hit a single to lead off the bottom half, and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

He advanced further on a ground out, before scoring on a balk by the pitcher to make it 7-2.

Powell chipped away further in the third, as Loera hit a lead off double, and advanced to third on a dropped third strike.

Bieber singled to score Loera, and Rowan hit into an error to put two on.

Gates singled to score Bieber, but Powell couldn’t do more damage despite only one out as the Pioneers trailed 7-4 after three.

Powell had a chance to get closer in the sixth, as Carter Fauskee walked, along with Abel and Nuss being hit by pitches to load the bases with one out.

The Pioneers could not find any runs, and needed to complete a comeback in the bottom of the seventh.

Bieber singled to lead off, and advanced all the way to third on a Gates single with one out.

Bieber stole home while Gates took second, and Fauskee singled to score Gates and make it 7-6.

Abel singled to get the tying run to third, but Powell couldn’t find the tying run as the Pioneers fell 7-6.

“I thought in the seventh we put up a fight and had a chance to win it. A hit right there, we get two runs and win the game. We just didn’t get that hit when we needed it,” Borders said. “Hopefully those will start coming for us.”

Powell outhit Gillette 9-5, led by three from Bieber and two from Gates.

Bieber had two RBIs, while Gates and Fauskee added one each.

Caden went 1-2/3, allowing one hit, two earned runs, six walks and one strikeout. Gates went 5-1/3 in relief, allowing four hits, one earned run, six strikeouts and two walks.

“I probably should have pulled him [Caden] sooner and that’s on me. He’s one of our top two guys and you figure he’ll adjust,” Borders said. “It just didn’t happen for him … I have all the faith in the world he’ll figure it out and be our guy the rest of the summer.”

QUICK TURNAROUND

Continuing what will be a busy couple of weeks the Pioneers stay at home on Tuesday evening, welcoming in the Upper Deck Expos AA (4-3) out of Billings at 5 and 7.

“Just to be able to play right away, I always feel sorry for the football and basketball teams that have to wait. We have an opportunity to have a day off and get right back on the horse,” Borders said. “This is a mature team, a lot of veterans that have been through this. I think we can play ourselves into shape.”