The Pioneers played their second to last home game of the regular season on Tuesday night. Fans packed the seats at Dunn Field as they watched the West Division Champs take on the Hornell Dodgers. Elmira came into the game looking to pick up their 27th win of the season and move ahead of the Amsterdam Mohawks for the best record in the NYCBL.

Elmira sent Co-Pitcher of the Week Casey Levens to the mound for his third start of the season. Levens brought a 2-1 record into the game and with a win would be one of six Elmira pitchers with at least 3 wins on the year.

The Pioneers gave Levens an early lead to work with as they plated two runs in the first inning after Mike Cleary singled to score Matt Ford and Jake Rickenbach. Elmira added to their lead in the sixth inning when Ryan Morris singled home Carlos Lopez who doubled earlier in the inning.

Working with a 5-0 lead in the seventh inning Levens lost the shut-out bid when John-Michael Williamson drove in Adam McFarland to cut the lead to 5-1 Elmira. Ryan Ferguson gave Elmira a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single to right field scoring John Snyder.

Casey Levens would not come back out to pitch the ninth inning as he handed the ball over to Jordan Egan, who was making his second appearance since coming back from an injury. Levens finished the night with 8 K's, allowing 3 hits and 1 walk over 8 innings. Egan struck-out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to give Elmira their 27th win of the season.

The Pioneers now sit at 27-14 on the season and will finish out the regular season on Wednesday night as the Hornell Dodgers will be back in town for a 7:05 PM match-up. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Pioneers exclusive retail ticket outlet, Jubilee Foods, located at 2898 Westinghouse Road, Horseheads, NY.

For more information contact the Pioneers office at 607-734-2690 or visit www.elmirapioneers.com.

This Summer, Have Some Fun at the Dunn.