NORTHFIELD — After knocking off Frontier 10-0 earlier in the season, the Pioneer baseball team found itself trailing 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning on Tuesday when the two Suburban League West foes met for the second time this year. 

Once Frontier starter Wyatt Edes came out of the game, the Panther bats came alive, smashing four hits in the fifth to put four runs on the board and take a 6-3 lead going into the sixth. 

Pioneer added a run in the sixth, which was more than enough with the way Jackson Glazier was pitching. The freshman came into the game in the middle of the fourth and didn't allow a hit the rest of the way, with the Panthers pulling out a 7-3 comeback victory. 

“Our starter didn’t have his best stuff today,” Pioneer coach Kevin Luippold said. “The game plan was to keep as many runners off base as possible. Frontier is a good hitting team, especially the meat of their order. When you have a guy like Jack who can come in behind him and you have full confidence in him to close out the game, it’s great. You can’t ask more for him.” 

Glazier struck out five batters in 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing just one walk to keep Frontier (8-2) off the bases.

“We were pumped early on and putting the ball in play,” Redhawks coach Chris Williams said. “We were scoring runs and thought we were in a good spot. The next guy came in and put the fire out. We were unable to get it going again.”

Hugh Cyhowski got the Panthers rally going in the fifth with a double that drove in Braeden Tsipenyuk to tie the score at three. 

Evan Tsipenyuk followed with a base hit, Ben Werner smashed a double to drive in Cyhowski, Ethan Mauthe cracked a single that scored Evan Tsipenyuk before Werner scored on a wild pitch, and suddenly Pioneer (10-2) held a 6-3 lead going into the sixth. 

In the sixth Alex McClelland reached on an error, swiped a pair of bases and Evan Tsipenyuk hit a sacrifice fly to score him to add an insurance run. 

“The bats came alive midway through the game,” Luippold said. “Once we started hitting, we couldn't stop. It’s how this team goes. Unfortunately it’s scary in the beginning when we’re not hitting but we got some situational hitting late. Evan getting the bat on the ball for an insurance run, Benny helping himself out with a double, good base running from Alex McClelland. Overall, it was a great game.” 

With a lineup full of strong hitters, the Panthers have the confidence that no matter how the game starts, they’re always one big inning away from being able to get back in it.

“It’s a nice feeling knowing we can do it,” Luippold said. “It gives the guys confidence that even if things don’t go our way, we can turn it around no matter how much we’re down. Luckily it was only a few runs but Frontier is a good team. We knew we had to get extra runs on the board because they can score. Our leaders were leaders today and that’s all you can ask for as a head coach.” 

Frontier couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game, scoring twice in the first inning. Rosco Palmer smashed a double that drove in Nico Fasulo and with the bases loaded, Brady Poreda walked to score Jack Conlon, giving the Redhawks the early cushion. Ben Werner got a strikeout to close out the inning without any additional damage done. 

Palmer got Frontier going in the third by beating out an infield single and taking second on the throw to first. Grayson Loos later grounded out to score Palmer, giving the Redhawks a 3-0 advantage going into the bottom of the frame. 

The Pioneer bats got going in the fourth. Cyhowski opened the inning with a single — the first hit of the game for the Panthers — and Evan Tsipenyuk followed with a single of his own. Mauthe singled in Cyhowski before Heath Gomez drove in Evan Tsipenyuk with a base hit, cutting the lead to 3-2 going into the fifth. 

“Give them credit,” Williams said. “They had a few big innings and were smacking the ball around. They did what they do best. Tough to beat a team when they’re stringing hits together like that.” 

Edes struck out three and allowed four hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. Werner struck out three for Pioneer.