Western Nebraska earns game one win in championship series

GERING, Neb. (KNEP) - Game one of the Independence League Championship Series between Western Nebraska and Spearfish went the distance and then some.

The two teams would play 5 hours and 15 innings to decide a winner. In the end it was the Pioneers scoring eight runs in the 15th to earn the 11-3 win over Spearfish.

Sasquatch took the early momentum scoring twice in the 2nd inning and once in the 5th to lead 3-1 going into the 8th inning. Pioneers evened the contest with two runs in the 8th inning to force extra innings.

It would stay tied until Western Nebraska took advantage of wild pitching from Spearfish to push across eight runs to retake the lead for good.

Jaxson Easterlin started the game for the Pioneers on the mound giving up 3 runs on a little over 5 innings. Pioneers bullpen behind Brian Buxvoort, Manato Tateno, and Scottsbluff grad Paul Panduro shut out the Sasquatch the next nine innings. Panduro went 7 innings of shut out baseball striking out double digit batters.

Western Nebraska leads the best of three series 1-0 and will look to wrap up the series Saturday at Oregon Trail Park Stadium in Gering. Game three if necessary is set for Sunday in Gering.