The Big Sticks were in Gering, Nebraska to take on the Western Nebraska Pioneers in game two of their series Saturday evening.

The Big Sticks sent Joe Harris on the mound for the start. He came into the game with a 2-1 record and a 7.98 ERA. He was matched up against southpaw Luke Short who had a 2-0 record and a 4.05 ERA.

The action started early in this game. In the top of the first, Carson Lundmark reached base thanks to a one out double. Later in the inning Travis Ray would drive a single to the outfield to bring in Lundmark making it 1-0 Big Sticks. After a quick bottom of the first, Pat Miner (yes, the pitcher turned two-way player) led off the bottom half of the inning. After working the count to 3-2, Miner hit a blast over the outfield fence to make it 2-0. Miner is one of eight Big Sticks selected for the all-star game, and one of four pitchers selected for the squad.

Joe Harris was able to escape a bases loaded two out jam in the bottom of the second inning, and after a quick third inning The Pioneers got some offense in the bottom of the fourth. Jarred Mazzaferro stepped up to the plate with two on and two out in the inning. He was able to reach base because of an error by shortstop Alex Thurston, which allowed two runs to score, tying the game at two.

After a quick top of the fifth inning, the Pioneers would continue their offense in the bottom of the fifth. With two on and one out, Jake English hit a ground ball to third base. The throw came to first, which allowed a run to score making the game 3-2 Western Nebraska.

The Sticks didn’t let in though. The very next inning Ryann Stafford reached base thanks to an error, and Pat Miner had another hit to make it two on with one out. New addition to the team Beckett Vine hit a ground ball to the shortstop who tried to turn two, but Vine beat it out at first, allowing a run to score and tying the game at 3.

Joe Harris was relieved in the sixth inning by Dan Rivera. Harris had a good outing, going five full innings allowing three runs (one of them earned) on six hits, two walks and striking out two. Rivera came into the game with an 0-1 record and a 4.32 ERA.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pioneers would continue to put pressure on the Sticks pitching staff. With one on and two out, JT Waldon smacked a triple to the fence to bring in the go ahead run. Rivera was relieved after that batter by Michael Reddick. Rivera went 1.2 innings, allowing one earned run on one hit, while walking two and not striking out a batter. Reddick came into the game with a 1-2 record and a 5.31 ERA. At the end of the seventh, the Pioneers led the Big Sticks 4-3.

After an uneventful eighth, the Big Sticks came up to the plate in the top of the ninth needing to score a run to tie the game, or two runs to take the lead. Derek Gellos got the inning started with a leadoff single. Alex Thurston then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Gellos to second with Joe Osborn coming up to the plate. After going down 0-2 in the count, Osborn ripped a go ahead home run in the ninth to allow the Big Sticks to take the lead 5-4. What a clutch at bat from Osborn in a moment where the Big Sticks needed it most. Lundmark struck out for the second out, Olive hit a single, then Marcus Hughes pinch ran for Olive. After stealing second base, Hughes scored thanks to some wild pitches making it 6-4 Big Sticks heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Michael Reddick was able to close out the show on the mound thanks to a double play and a three-pitch strikeout to end it.

The Big Sticks improved to 5-3 in the second half of the season, and 22-16 overall for the year. They are a half game ahead of the Tommyknockers for first place in the Lewis Division. The Pioneers dropped to 5-2 in the second half and 28-10 for the year overall. After securing a playoff spot in the first half of the season, they dropped to third place in the Clark Division for the second half.

Michael Reddick picked up the win in this game for the Big Sticks. He improved to 2-2 on the year and lowered his ERA to 4.77. Jack Miller took the loss for the Pioneers making him 1-1 on the year. His ERA was raised from 4.77 to 5.50 after this outing.

Notable Performances:

Joe Osborn: 2-4, 2 RBI, HR, R, BB (Player of the game)

Pat Miner: 2-4, RBI, HR, R

Carson Lundmark: 1-3, 2B, R, BB, SO

Joe Harris: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Michael Reddick: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, W

Be sure to catch the Big Sticks look for the series win against the Pioneers at 4:35 MT Sunday afternoon on The Mix 105.7 FM.