The Big Sticks made the trek to Gehring, NE on Friday evening for the first of three games against the Western Nebraska Pioneers.

It was a star-studded pitching matchup as all-star Josh Tucker for the Big Sticks faced off against fellow all-star, Caden Edwards for the Pioneers.

These two pitchers showed why they were all-star selection as the game was scoreless until the fourth inning. The Big Sticks got on the board first when Travis Ray Jr cracked an RBI single to score De La Cruz and put the Sticks up 1-0. This lead was brief as the Pioneers responded in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Clay Cutter to score Waldon and tie the game back up at one.

Those would be the only runs each respective starting pitcher would allow as Tucker pitched trough the sixth allowing only the one run on two hits and striking out five. Edwards was able to get through five and one third allowing one run on four hits and striking out six.

It had turned into a bullpen duel as it proceeded to take until the eighth inning before the tie was broken. The Big Sticks were the team to do so as Ryan Stafford doubled in the top of the inning to score Osborn and put the Sticks up 2-1 late in the game. Disaster struck in the bottom of the eighth as, with reliever Kenny Stewart in his second inning of work, gave up three runs, all of which were unearned, to give the Pioneer a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.

Pioneer closer, Cade McGee entered the game in the top of ninth looking to lock down his fourth save of the season. Hoover and Gellos were able to get two-out base knocks but were stranded as McGee induce a groundball for out number three.

The Big Sticks scored their 2 runs on 8 hits and committed 1 error, and the Pioneers got their 4 runs on exactly 4 hits with no errors. Winning pitcher is Pioneer reliever, Paul Panduro, earned his second victory, and the loss is charged to Kenny Stewart, his first loss as he allowed 0 earned runs in his two innings of work.

The Pioneers improve their second half record to 5-1 and their overall record to 28-9, and the Sticks fall to 4-3 on the second half and 21-16 overall.

The two teams are back at it again on Saturday, July 10 for game two of the series at Oregon Trail Park Stadium with first pitch set for 6:35 PM MDT.