The Pioneers came home to the confines of Dunn Field on Tuesday night to take on the Niagara Power. Elmira after dealing with Mother Nature throughout the past week would finally be able to get a full game in. Nate Kowal was scheduled to start for Elmira, but a late change gave the start to Aaron Zaleznik.

Zaleznik made his third start of the season and first against Niagara this year. Zaleznik was the winner of his previous start against the Webster Yankees at Dunn Field. The night would not start as planned for Aaron with the first batter of the game being hit by a pitch and two batters later walking a Power batter. Niagara would take an early 2-0 lead with Marshall McDonald singling home a run.

Elmira down early would answer in their home half of the first as Jake Rickenbach led off the inning with a single. With Rickenbach on second after a walk to Justin Lamborn, Joey Jacobson laced a single scoring Rickenbach and advancing Lamborn to third. Lamborn scored with Ryan Ferguson grounding into a double play tying the game up at 2-2.

Zaleznik would exit after the fourth inning with Elmira down 5-2 allowing 5 runs on 5 hits. Jordan Egan looked to keep Niagara in check but was forced to leave after facing just three batters with an injury. The Power also turned to their bullpen early as starter Sam Moore went just three and two thirds innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks.

The Pioneers had two different opportunities to get back into the game as they would load the bases up in the first and fourth innings but leave all three runners stranded both times. Elmira closed the gap up in the bottom of the fifth inning with Mike Cleary driving in a run with a single up the middle. Elmira would also score in the bottom of the eighth inning with Rickenbach bringing home Cleary on a RBI single making it a 7-4 ballgame and getting the Pioneers within three runs.

The Pioneers would had nothing left in the tank as they would come to bat in the last of the ninth trying to rally in front of the home crowd. Mike Cleary grounded out to the third basemen with two outs ending the ballgame and giving Niagara their first win against Elmira this season.

The Pioneers move to 10-7 on the season and will be back in action on Wednesday June 30th as they host the Webster Yankees at 7:05 P.M. The Pioneers will then be back at Dunn Field on July 4th as they host the Geneva Red Wings at 6:05 P.M.

For ticket information or team news visit the Pioneers on the web at www.elmirapioneers.com or call 607-734-2690. This Summer Have Some Fun at Dunn!