A complete five-inning game from freshman Alexa Reynolds and an emphatic home run to straight center from senior Zayda Rodriguez were the main highlights of the Pioneer High School softball team’s 25-3 Monticello Empire League win over Sacramento Wednesday evening.

The Patriots (13-5, 5-2 MEL) came into the matchup looking to get back on track following a 5-1 non-league road loss to Inderkum this past Tuesday, as a double from senior Caitlin Mayfield to score freshman Selena Martinez Palacios would be the Patriots’ only run.

Before that, however, they enjoyed two straight league wins over Wood and River City by razor-thin scores of 8-7 and 10-9, respectively, with the latter coming via a walk-off sacrifice fly from freshman Belle Ceuvas.

Wednesday evening, Pioneer’s bats got to work right away in the bottom of the first inning after Sacramento managed to scratch in a leadoff run off Reynolds, scoring 12 runs to instantly activate the 10-run mercy rule. They just had to get through the five innings first.

They kicked off the scoring after Emma Kinney reached base safely on an error, allowing senior Grace McGinty to score. A triple from senior Marisa Bryson, a batter later scored Kinney to make it 2-1. Three straight Sacramento errors then led to four more Patriots runs as Bryson, seniors Sophia O’Quelly and Kylie Cueva, and Reynolds all scored to make it 6-1.

Rodriguez then stepped up and knocked in the first of her game-high 5 RBI, bringing home freshman Jaidyn Sanders Truitt to make it 7-1. A play later, a triple from freshman Rylee Yob scored Rodriguez and made it now 8-1.

Two singles from McGinty and O’Quelly then scored Yob and McGinty to extend the lead to 10-1. A double from Cueva then fully activated the mercy rule as Byrson and O’Quelly both crossed home plate to make it 12-1.

Pioneer poured in four more runs in the bottom of the second. Rodriguez brought home her second run of the game via a single that scored Sanders Truitt to make it 13-1. Three straight singles later, Kinney brought home Rodriguez and made it 14-1 before Bryson singled home Yob to make it 15-1

A batter later, one final single from Cueva brought home Kinney and extended the lead to 16-1.

In the top of the third, Sacramento kept their collective heads in the game and managed to get two runs back off Reynolds, who finished the game from the mound with 5 innings pitched, allowing 1 hit, only 1 earned run, 7 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Those two runs, however, were wiped out by an RBI single in the bottom of the third from Kinney to bring home Rodriguez as the Patriots made it 17-3.

Pioneer ended the night with eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the game 25-3. After senior Sofia Castro scored on a Sanders Truitt sacrifice fly, Rodriguez came up to bat and launched a 3-run home run to straight center that brought home junior Diana Rubio and Cuevas to make it 21-3.

A single from Castro to score McGinty made it 22-3 before an error allowed Kinney to score and make it 23-3. The final two runs came via a Cuevas RBI single to score Bryson and a fielder’s choice that scored Castro.

The Patriots will resume MEL play this Friday with a trip to Rodriguez High School, set for 4 p.m. The Patriots eeked out a 3-2 home victory over Rodriguez back on March 25. They will remain on the road to take on Vanden Tuesday, April 21, at 4 p.m. before returning home on Wednesday, April 22, to host McClatchy for a non-league matchup.

Their next MEL home game will be on Friday, April 24, against Vacaville.