Thief River Falls, Minn. - 

The first two games of a four-game MCAC Northern Division baseball series between host Northland Community & Technical College and Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range went to Northland Tuesday afternoon at Pioneer Field. The Pioneers swept the doubleheader with wins by scores of 8-4 in game one and 12-1 in two. 

The Pioneers didn't waste any time in Tuesday's opener, plating three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first to go in front 3-0, and they added a run on one hit in the second to go in front 4-0. The Norse got on the board in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on three hits, and they made it a one-run game, scoring a run on one hit in the top of the fifth. The Pioneers added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs on two hits to take a 6-3 lead, and they added to their lead with two more in the sixth to go in front 8-3. The Norse got a run back in the seventh but couldn't close the gap anymore as the Pioneers claimed the 8-4 win. 

Sophomore Aidan Powell went four and two-thirds innings to pick up the win. He allowed three runs on three hits, with five walks and seven strikeouts. Brandon Castilleja got the final seven outs to earn the save. He allowed one run on four hits, with a pair of strikeouts. 

Offensively, the Pioneers were led by Justin Amesquita and Gamaliel Vasquez. Amesquita went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, with two runs scored and a run batted in. Vasquez also went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and three RBI. 

The Pioneers started fast in game two, scoring two runs in the first and three in the second to go in front 5-0. The Norse got on the board with a run in the top of the third, but the Pioneers answered with seven in the bottom half of the inning to go in front 12-1. The Norse were unable to answer during their final two at-bats and the game ended via the 10-run rule. 

Joshua Torres, Justin Amesquita and Austin Amesquita had multiple hits for the Pioneers. Torres went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI. Justin Amesquita went 2-for-3, scoring two runs and batting in two more; and Austin Amesquita went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Cooper Oriold-Climenhaga got the start for the Pioneers in game two and went the distance, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in his five innings of work.