In a tale of two games the Powell Pioneers earned a split against visiting Gallatin Valley, struggling to hit in an opening 7-2 loss before earning an 11-9 win behind 12 hits in the second game.

GALLATIN VALLEY 7, POWELL 2

Returning home for Mother’s Day the Pioneers (7-5) took on the Outlaws (1-10) for a test against a typically strong Montana opponent.

After a scoreless first inning the visitors got on the board in the second, starting with a walk and a single before an error on a bunt scored a run and make it 1-0.

A wild pitch allowed another runner to score, and a wild pitch during a different batter scored another to make it 3-0.

Powell got to two outs, but another Outlaws single scored one run and made it 4-0 after the second.

The Pioneers were unable to muster even a baserunner over the next innings, before Gallatin Valley added to its lead in the top of the fifth.

“We just didn’t hit,” manager Jason Borders said. “He [pitcher Scotty LeMay] was a good guy on the mound that we weren’t prepared for … He had our number.”

A walk and single put two runners on, and a single scored a run to make it 5-0 and allow the secondary baserunner to advance to third.

A ground out scored that runner and made it 6-0 after the fifth.

Powell got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, starting with Dominik Bieber being hit by a pitch, and advancing on a sac bunt by Decker Engesser.

Ben Ostermiller’s single scored Bieber, and Jordan Loera joined him after being hit by a pitch to have two runners on with one out.

Caden Diaz’s single scored one, but the Pioneers were unable to bring in any more runs as they trailed 6-2 heading into the seventh.

A hit batter and a double put two runners in scoring position for the Outlaws in the seventh, before a ground out scored an extra run and made it 7-2.

Powell got one baserunner on through a leadoff double by Abel Teten, but was unable to score him as the Pioneers fell 7-2.

Powell was outhit 7-3 and committed the lone error in the contest.

POWELL 11, GALLATIN VALLEY 9

In the second contest the visitors again got off to a quick start, getting a runner on via error, with that runner advancing through a wild pitch and steal to get into scoring position.

A ground out brought the run home, but the Pioneers held the Outlaws in check before getting runs of their own in the bottom of the first.

Talon Nuss singled with one out before being brought around to score on a Ryan Barrus double.

Barrus stole third with two outs, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1 Powell.

Loera walked, and advanced all the way to third on a Cole Fauskee single to put runners on the corners.

Fauskee stole second, allowing  Loera to steal home and make it 3-1.

Teten drove home Fauskee on a single and Powell led 4-1 after the first.

“We just didn’t have that energy in the first game. That second game we came out with a little more,” Borders said.

Brenton Henke singled to lead off the second, and advanced all the way to third on an error.

Ostermiller walked to put runners on the corners, and Henke scored on a wild pitch as Powell extended the lead to 5-1 after the second.

A single and a walk got runners on to start the third for Gallatin Valley, and a sac bunt advanced the pair further.

A walk with two outs loaded the bases, before a wild pitch scored one and made it 5-2.

Powell held off the visitors from doing more damage before extending the lead in the bottom of the third.

Fauskee singled with one out, before stealing second.

Teten singled and scored Fauskee, and Kolby Gates singled to advance Teten to third and put two on with one out.

After an out, Gates stole second, while an error on that same play allowed Teten to score and Gates to advance to third.

Ostermiller singled and scored Gates, making it 8-2 in favor of Powell after the third.

In the fourth, three walks mixed in with two strikeouts loaded the bases for the visitors, before a passed ball scored one run.

An error on a ground ball followed and scored another, before a run scored on a fielder’s choice before the final out and the visitors cut the lead down to 8-5.

Powell found its offense again in the bottom of the fifth, as Fauskee got on through an error and stole second with no outs.

Teten bunted, leading to an error by the Outlaws, which allowed Teten to round to second and Fauskee to score and make it 9-5.

Teten stole third before Christian Love was hit by a pitch, and Teten eventually scored on a wild pitch to give Powell a 10-5 lead heading into the sixth.

A single and two walks loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with one out, before a double scored a pair of runs for the Outlaws.

Another single scored a run, and a ground out scored one more and made it a 10-9 contest.

Powell got an extra run in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a Barrus leadoff single.

Barrus stole second, before a ground out on Diaz’s contact allowed him to advance. An error by the first baseman allowed Barrus to score and the Pioneers held an 11-9 lead.

Gallatin Valley got one runner on in the top of the seventh, but the Pioneers got out the final outs for the victory.

Teten led going 3-3 with two RBIs at the plate while Ostermiller, Barrus and Fauskee each recorded two hits.

Diaz got the win on the mound giving up two hits and one earned run, with eight strikeouts and seven walks.

HOME WEEKEND

The Pioneers remain at home this weekend, playing a doubleheader Saturday depending on the weather.

Powell will take on the Sheridan ‘AA’ Troopers (10-7) in that doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Pioneers will be hoping for improvement against the Troopers after a pair of 8-1 and 9-4 losses started the season in Sheridan.

“Our next couple of weeks are going to be tough,” Borders said. “If we can take some of that momentum from that second game moving forward that would be awesome.”

Powell was also scheduled to also host Buffalo on Sunday, but a cancellation has left the Pioneers scrambling for an additional set of games with Borders saying they are looking for another opponent that day.