By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
Thief River Falls, Minn. -
Northland Community & Technical College defeated Minnesota North College - Rainy River by scores of 6-5 and 9-4 Sunday to sweep a home doubleheader. The home doubleheader sweep also gave the Pioneers a four-game series sweep over the Voyageurs and it extended the Pioneers' winning streak to 13 games.
The Pioneers grounded into five double plays in game one Sunday and struggled to put runs on the board. They trailed 5-1 going into their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Jeremiah Vallejo singled to lead off the inning and
Dylan Smith drew a four-pitch walk with one out in the inning. Both base runners scored on a double by
Joshua Torres that made the score 5-3. Justin Amesquite kept the pressure on the Voyageurs with a single to right field that pushed Torres to third base.
Tyler Tamez singled to left to score Torres and advance Amesquita to second base.
With their four-run lead reduced to a single run, the Voyageurs lifted starting pitcher Johnny Lopez, who had allowed just one run in his first six innings of work. Jordan Martin inherited two base runners and they both moved into scoring position when Martin's first pitch got past catcher Tom Rambouts and rolled to the backstop. Martin struck out
Gamaliel Vasquez for the second out.
The Pioneers tied the game when Martin threw another wild pitch, this time allowing Amesquita to score the tying run from third and Tamez to advance to third. Martin eventually hit
Isaac Lopez to put runners on the corners. He then walked
Austin Amesquita to load the bases with two outs and the score knotted 5-5.
Vallejo, who started the inning with a single, came up again in the bottom of the seventh and belted the first pitch he saw into left field for a game-winning base hit. Tamez scored the winning run as the Pioneers celebrated their 12th consecutive win.
Rayce Fisher went the distance for the Pioneers, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits. He struck out seven batters and walked one.
The Pioneers looked like they might get blown out early in game two. Torres got the start and allowed six straight batters to reach base without recording an out. He was eventually lifted after allowing three runs on one hit, a pair of walks and a pair of hit batsmen. With the bases loaded, the Pioneers called on
Justin Amesquita to put out the fire. Amesquita got out of the jam by picking off MNC-Rainy River's Ian Becker at third on a failed squeeze play. He then struck out Dustin Vivean-Vea for the second out of the inning and he picked off Gerardo Alcantar at first to end the inning.
The Pioneers worked their way back into the game with two runs on one hit in the bottom of the third, a run on two hits in the fourth and a run on three hits in the fifth.
Up 4-3 through five innings. the Pioneers added to their lead with five runs on four hits in the sixth inning to take a 9-3 lead.
The Voyageurs scraped together a run on two hits in the seventh to cut the final deficit to five runs.
Justin Amesquita pitched the equivalent of a complete game, facing 26 batters and recording 21 outs in what will go down as a relief appearance. He allowed just one run, walked two and struck out three in his seven innings of work.
The Pioneers improved to 20-17 overall and a perfect 12-0 in MCAC Northern Division play. The Voyageurs fell to 8-26 overall and 2-10 in MCAC Northern Division action.
April 20, 2025
Minnesota North College-Rainy River at Northland Community & Technical College
Game 1
5
6
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College-Rainy River |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
| Northland Community & Technical College |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
Box Score
Batting
2B: Ian Becker
RBI: Ian Becker , Christian Cortes
Sac: Chavez Kanakaole
Sac Fly: Christian Cortes
Baserunning
SB: Chavez Kanakaole (2) , Tom Rombauts , Austin Jackson-Anderson
Fielding
E: Gerardo Alcantar Jr. (2) , Leo Meraz
DP: Josh Johnson (2) , Gerardo Alcantar Jr. (2) , Leo Meraz
Batting
2B: Joshua Torres
RBI: Joshua Torres (3) , Tyler Tamez , Jeremiah Vallejo
Sac: Dylan Smith
Sac Fly: Joshua Torres
GIDP: Justin Amesquita , Gamaliel Vasquez
Fielding
E: Joshua Torres
Pitching
Batters faced: Johnny Lopez (31) , Jordan Martin (4)
WP: Jordan Martin (2)
HBP: Johnny Lopez (2) , Jordan Martin
Pitching
Batters faced: Rayce Fisher (31)
WP: Rayce Fisher (2)
HBP: Rayce Fisher (2)
