The Pioneers opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play in dominant fashion;
winning 11-0 in 7 innings against Franklin College.

Connor Arnold threw the first complete game shutout of his young career, going 7 innings with
six strikeouts while scattering four hits. The zeroes gave the Pioneer offense time to get cooking as they
popped off for 11 runs over the course of six at-bats.

Scoring was early and often as the Pioneers managed to scratch runs across in 5 consecutive
innings to start the game. Austin Taylor got the ball rolling with a two out double down the right field
line to score Griffin Hall and Houston Manning. The second inning saw the Pios score via a bases loaded
walk from Trent Youngblood.

The big number came in the 3 rd as a caravan of Pioneer hitters came to the plate in a big, six run,
inning. Calvin Schubert reached first via a throwing error and proceeded to steal 2 nd . Manning followed
with a single of his own to put men on the corners. Taylor came through once again with a ground-rule
double down the right field line. A wild pitch and a Trent Pahl single brought the next two runs across.
Braden Becker walked, Riley Hill was hit by a pitch, and Trent Youngblood reached first on a fielder's
choice to score the runner from 3 rd . Griffin Hall provided a cap to the inning with a two-run single to
close the scoring for the inning.

Arnold continued to throw zeroes on the board to allow the offense to cross the 10-run
threshold with Braden Becker tacking on a solo homer to left field to make it 11-0.

Coach Getsee had this to say about the game:
"Always great to start conference play with a win. The series isn't over because we won 11-0 today.
We've got two more big ones to play tomorrow. But, what a pitching performance by Connor Arnold."

Offensively, Taylor was the standout. Going 3-4 with four RBI and two doubles. Youngblood
tacked on a double and two RBI, while Schubert tacked on another hit along with two stolen bases.