The Elmira Pioneers offered their fans two games on Friday as the Alfred Thunder came to town after splitting a double header with the Geneva Red Wings. Elmira with the two games looked to open up its lead over the Hornell Dodgers in the West Division.

The first game of the day saw Casey Levens start on the mound for Elmira. Levens brought a 0-1 record into the game with it being his first start of the season after making 3 relief appearances.

Alfred got on the board early when Taylor Kaprive launched a deep shot to left field clearing the wall and giving the Thunder a 2-0 lead. Elmira would counter in the bottom half of the inning after John Snyder and Ryan Ferguson reached base via walks and Carlos Lopez laced a shot off the left field wall scoring both runners.

Alfred broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning as Bryan Lucas hit a ground ball to Carlos Lopez scoring Kaprive. Lopez continued to hit the ball well as he once again drove a ball deep into the gap allowing John Snyder to score tying the game at 3-3. In the next at bat Mike Cleary would drive in Ferguson and Lopez giving Elmira their first lead of the night.

Elmira brought in John Colella to pitch the top of the seventh and would go onto strike out two Thunder batters to end the game for his eighth save. In the 5-3 victory Levens picked up his first win of the season throwing 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and striking 4 batters.

The night cap would see Nate Kowal toe the mound as he looked to pick up his third win of the season. Kowal would pitch deep into the game before the Thunder would get a run off of him.

The Pioneers offense would take the first lead of the game in the third inning when Jake Rickenbach plated Brian Erie on an RBI double. Justin Lamborn drove in his fourth run of the year to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Kowal continued to do what he needed on the mound until the top of the sixth inning after Alfred led off the inning with two singles scoring their first run on a hit from Bryan Lucas.

Kowal then loaded the bases up and would be relieved by Cody Normand. Normand was dealt the task of keeping Elmira in the lead when he got a key double play from his defense to end the inning.

Elmira would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the inning and once again bring on Colella for the save. The Thunder would put two runners on base before Colella would strike out the side to end the game and lock up his ninth save of the season and second of the night.

The Pioneers move to 19-10 on the season and they will continue their home stand on Fantastic Friday, July 16th, there will be a fireworks display presented by the City of Elmira. Spectacular Saturday, July 17th, is Hall of Fame invocation night, when “lucky fan” giveaways include an HDTV, DVD player and the “Allegiant Air weekend vacation” in Orlando.

For ticket information or team news visit the Pioneers on the web at www.elmirapioneers.com or call 607-734-2690. This

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