Pioneers Win Thriller Over Oregon Tech to Advance in 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds presented by Avista

Lewiston --- The power was on display for the Pioneers as they use four home runs to take down the Owls of Oregon Tech, 7-6, in a thrilling elimination game to advance in the 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds.
 
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
The Pioneer offense started off with a bang as Delvis Claudio crushed a lead-off bomb to center field to make it 1-0 in the top of the 1^st. Three batters later, Samuel Fabian stepped to the dish and smashed a two-run shot to center to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead after the top of the 1^st.
 
Oregon Tech wasted zero time answering back as they scored three runs in their half of the first to extinguish the Pioneer momentum.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Pioneers manufactured another run in the top of the 4^th when Claudio worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-3, WBU.
 
Brayden Peyton tacked on another run for the Pioneers in the top of the 6^th after a solo shot to left made it 5-3, WBU.
 
Felix Polanco added two massive insurance runs in the top of the 7^th with a two-run bomb to center that extended the Pioneer lead to 7-3 late.
 
Oregon Tech wouldn't go down without a fight, scoring three runs across the 8^th and 9^th inning, but senior Juan Gil-Franco slammed the door on the Owls to secure the 7-6 win for the Pioneers and push them on to the next round of the 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds presented by Avista.
 
With the loss, 3-seed Oregon Tech is now eliminated.
 
Claudio finished 1 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk. Peyton went 2 for 4 with a home run and a single. Fabian went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer. Polanco went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer.
 
Felix Polanco was the starting pitcher for the Pioneers in this one. He battled through 6.1 innings, allowing five runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Gil-Franco pitched 2.2 solid innings of relief, allowing one run, one walk, and two strikeouts.
 
 
REMARKS FROM HEAD COACH TODD WELDON
 
Thoughts on how the team bounced back after yesterday's game:
 
"This is the toughest group of young men that I have ever coached. They are really talented, but more importantly they have grit."
 
Thoughts on the tomorrow's game against 3-seed Lewis-Clark State College:
 
"If we play our game tomorrow and we trust in our game, we will win!"
 
 
UP NEXT
 
The 2-seed Pioneers will have a rematch against the 3-seed Warriors of Lewis-Clark State College tomorrow, May 14^th at 4:30 PM CST. The Pioneers must in this game in order to advance to the 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Round Finals against 1-see Hope International (Calif.) tomorrow night at 8:00 PM CST.
 
For more information about the 2025 NAIA Baseball Opening Rounds presented by Avista, please visit: https://www.naia.org/sports/bsb/2024-25/Releases/Opening_Round