It wasn’t easy but the Western Oklahoma State College Pioneers earned their fifth consecutive trip to the NJCAA World Series on Saturday

The Pioneers entered District tournament finals unbeaten against Dodge City. The Conquistadors had to defeat Western twice to win the district title.

Western (44-15) blew a four run lead late in the first game and lost to Dodge City 7-6.

The Pioneers shot out to a 7-0 in the second and had to hang on for dear life to defeats the hosts 7-5.

First game

Dodge City 7, Western 5

A tight game was decided in the eighth inning as Western fell to Dodge City C.C. 7-6 on Saturday at Dodge City.

Elvis Rodriguez racked up two RBIs on three hits for the Pioneers. He singled in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings.

Sam Brunner got the win for Dodge City C.C. He tossed 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Brunner struck out none, walked two and gave up no hits.

The Pioneers broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, pushing across fourth. Western scored on an RBI single by Rodriguez, a groundout by Francisco Rosario, and an RBI single by Randy Joung.

After a quick strike from the Pioneers, Dodge City C.C. responded with four runs in the seventh. Dodge City C.C. scored on an RBI single by Corbin Crockett, a hit by pitch, an error, and a groundout by John Cotton.

Dodge City never surrendered the lead after the eighth inning, scoring one run on a wild pitch.

Second game

Western 7, Dodge City 6

Dodge City C.C. was never able to get over the hump and overcome its troubles against Western on Saturday, as Dodge City C.C. fell 7-5 at Dodge City after falling behind by seven runs in the sixth inning.

Dodge City C.C. scored on an RBI single by John Cotton in the eighth inning and a two-run double by Cody Voelker and a two-run single by Jarren Donato in the ninth inning. The Conquistadors had the bases loaded with two out but Cesar Figuereo came in relief for the Pioneers and ended the game on a strike out.

Michael Peoples was superb pitching eight strong innings and allowing only one run at that time He kept contact to a minimum, striking out nine Dodge City batters. Peoples did allow a pair of runs in the ninth and three earned runs, 10 hits and two walks over 8 1/3 innings.

Western scored one run in the first inning on an RBI single by Elvis Rodriguez.

The Pioneers scored one run in the third inning, and then followed it up with one more in the fourth. In the third, Western scored on a groundout by Francisco Rosario, plating Michael Cruz.

The Pioneers pushed across two runs in both the fifth inning and the sixth. In the fifth, Western Oklahoma State Pioneers scored on a steal of home, scoring Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was hot at the plate. He went 3-4, drove in one and scored one run. He singled in the first, third, and fifth innings.

Esteban Paula and Rodriguez both had three hits in the game. Michael Cruz, Shawn McAndrews had two hits each and Marty Dunlap, Francisco Rosario and Hazeal Wessing finished with hit

Pioneer notes: The weather conditions were completely different Saturday than the first day of the tournament which was Friday. On the first day the was blowing out at 30 mph. Western hit six home runs that day. On Saturday the wind was blowing in at 35 mph. There were no home runs.

“We hit six shots that went to the warning track,” Western Coach Kurt Russell said.

In the first day of the district tournament Western will play Grand Rapids, Mich. at 7 p.m. Saturday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid.

The five consecutive appearances in the World Series by the Pioneers is the longest one going.

NJCAA DII Baseball District Champions/World Series Participants

Southwest (Regions 1, 5): Scottsdale Community College, Ariz. (38-22)

North Plains (Regions 9, 11, 13): Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa (48-13)

Plains (Regions 2, 6, 16): Western Oklahoma State College (44-15)

North Central (Region 4): Madison College, Wis. (43-11)

Midwest (Region 24): Heartland Community College, Ill. (51-6)

South (Region 23): LSU-Eunice, La. (52-4)

North (Region 12): Grand Rapids Community College, Mich. (39-22)

Northeast (Regions 19, 20): Lackawanna College, Pa. (46-10)

Southeast (Regions 8, 10): Catawba Valley Community College, N.C. (36-15)

East (Regions 3, 15, 21): Community College of Rhode Island (33-11)