Pioneer jumped out to an early lead by putting their biggest number up in the first inning. Andrew Schulz led off the game by drawing a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Zane Bailey ripped a double to score Schultz and Steve Matos ripped a double to drive in Bailey. After Prospect was able to get the first out of the game on a ground ball that moved Matos to third, Eddie Hsieh drew a walk and stole second. M. Kaufmann knocked in Matos with a sacrifice fly.

"Zane Bailey continues to swing a hot bat for us," said Pioneer head coach Jake Hernandez after the game. "And Mike Kaufmann is starting to come around."

Pioneer kept plugging away, scoring runs in both the second and third innings for a five-run lead, but it was in the bottom of the fifth when the first big shot came. Hsieh opened up the inning with a walk and stole second before M. Kaufmann tore the cover off the ball and hit a line drive to deep center that had no trouble clearing the fence for a two-run blast. Danny Ventura followed with a grounder through the left side before Prospect was able to shut down three in a row to get out of the inning.

The top of the sixth was quiet for the Mustangs, but they livened back up again in the top of the seventh when J. Kaufmann, who leads the brothers 3-2 in home runs, had a blast of his own. With one out, Jon Silva lined a base knock over first and J. Kaufmann belted a long fly ball to center that looked playable for the center fielder, who ran into the wall trying to chase it down.

M. Kaufmann was the biggest hitter of the day, going 2 for 2 with a sac fly, a two-run jack, a double, a run scored and four RBIs. Matos was 2 for 3 with a double, a run scored, a walk and an RBI.

Ventura went 2 for 3 and Schultz was 2 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Kaufmann had the long ball and two RBIs, Bailey doubled and Michael Rudolph and Silva each singled.

Robbie Nelson threw four strong innings for the Mustangs, allowing only three hits and a total of four base runners. Nelson is now 6-0 in his starting job and continues to throw well.

"We continue to play steady defense," added Hernandez.

Pioneer pushed its record to a league-leading 13-0 in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League with a convincing 8-2 win over Silver Creek on Monday. The Mustangs are now 18-5 overall this year.

Nelson got the call again and went the distance to flip a 5-hitter for his seventh win, striking out 10 along the way. M. Kaufmann had two hits to drive in four runs in what turned out to be a come-from-behind victory for the Mustangs.

Silver Creek touched Nelson for a couple of runs in the third to break up a scoreless tie. But the Mustangs calmly fought back with three in the fourth to take the lead, then unloaded for five more in the sixth to clinch the win.

The win, coupled with Piedmont Hills' 6-5 loss to Evergreen Valley, virtually clinched the championship for the Mustangs, who can finish in no worse than a title tie. Pioneer holds a five-game edge for the second-place Pirates with just five games to go.

Pioneer was to visit Independence (2-10) on April 27 and will hit the road to visit last-place Lincoln (1-11) on April 29. The Mustangs will return home to host Piedmonts Hills (9-5) on May 3. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.