(Photo credit: Mark Rein/Scottsbluff Star-Herald)

By Miles Klotz

MINOT, ND - In a battle of the league’s top two teams, the Western Nebraska Pioneers rode a big first inning to an 8-4 victory at Corbett Field against the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs.

The first five batters of the game reached and scored for the Pioneers (29-12), who hit a season-high three homers in an inning, all in the first five batters of the game. Hobbs Nyberg, Jack Pauley, and Beau Bratton all homered in the first, and Luther Woullard homered in the eighth to set a team record with four home runs in the game.

It was not the strongest night for Sabre Dogs (29-14) starter Luke Dawson, who surrendered seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings of work. The Sabre Dog bullpen allowed just one run after him (Woullard’s homer), but their offense was not successful against the Pioneers staff.

Jack Sinclair had another strong outing for the Pioneers, earning his fourth win of the year after tossing five innings of two-run baseball, striking out six and walking two while allowing five hits. Logan Gilbertson was solid over two innings of work despite allowing a two-run homer to Souris Valley’s Justin Glover, and Alex Jorgensen and Jeff Hakanson finished off the Pioneer victory at the back end of the bullpen.

Nyberg led the way offensively for the Pioneers with three hits, including his home run. Woullard, Pauley, and Brandon Bohning (2-for-5) all added multi-hit games as well. Beau Bratton drove in two runs and scored two in the victory.

The Pioneers will go for the season sweep of the Sabre Dogs on Saturday at Corbett Field. Western Nebraska will send the left-hander Jonny Petsch to the mound, looking to secure their 30th victory of the season. First pitch is set for 6:05 PM MST.