The Powell Pioneers baseball team won its second game of the season on Tuesday night, beating conference opponent Riverton in the team’s final home game.

In the doubleheader, the Pioneers rebounded from a 9-0 loss in game one for a 5-3 win in the second game.

“Picking up that first conference win will really boost the boys’ confidence,” said Pioneers manager George Laughlin. “They put together two solid baseball games and got themselves a victory in the second game. It’s getting towards the end of our season and things feel like they’re starting to all come together.”

Powell 5, Riverton 3

In game two, Riverton led 2-0 before the Pioneers mounted a rally in the bottom of the third inning.

Colin Queen started things with a single and stole second base. Tyler Feller later singled and both he and Queen took an extra base on a wild pitch.

With two outs, and runners on second and third, Riverton committed a throwing error on a Nate Brown grounder, allowing Feller and Queen to score and tie things up.

Feller — who pitched a complete, seven-inning game for the Pioneers — then retired Riverton’s Raiders in order in the top of the fourth.

“Feller did a great job throwing strikes and getting hitters to groundout or let our defense make a play,” Laughlin said.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ryley Meyer led off the inning for the Pioneers with a walk.

Cameron Schmidt then bunted for a hit, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Jaxson Carter that advanced Meyer and Schmidt to second and third, respectively.

Queen then hit a two-RBI single — bringing Meyer and Schmidt home — to make the score 4-2, Powell.

Two batters and two outs later for the team, Luke Washington hit a single, scoring Queen and putting Powell up 5-2.

Riverton got a run back in the sixth, but the Pioneers hung on in the seventh — including a couple put-outs by shortshop Reece Hackenberg — for the win.

“Hackenberg really stepped up today and played really well at shortstop for us,” said Laughlin.

Feller allowed only three hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out five Raiders.

At the plate, Queen went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored two runs.

Washington added two RBIs on his one hit and Nate Brown also had an RBI and a hit.

Feller and Schmidt each had one hit as well.

“Our defense was as good as it’s been all year,” Laughlin said. “We were making plays in the outfield and throwing guys out on the bases. We still had a couple of physical errors, but they stayed focused and got out of innings without much damage.”

Riverton 9, Powell 0

The first game was scoreless for the first four innings.

Riverton broke through in the top of the fifth inning with four runs, including a two-run homer. The Raiders added five more in the seventh.

For the Pioneers, Queen started at the mound and pitched for five innings which included two runs on nine hits, two strikeouts and one walk.

Meyer pitched for two innings and had seven runs (five earned) on five hits, one strikeout and two walks.

At the plate, Washington hit a single in the seventh for Powell’s only hit.

The Pioneers’ season has almost concluded, with only one tournament and two conference doubleheaders left to play.

The team has the next eight days off and will return to action in Billings at the Billings Halos Tournament July 6-8; Laughlin said he’s excited to head to Billings and see some new competition.

The next conference games, meanwhile, will come against Green River on July 11 and at Cody on July 14.

“Moving into the last two conference doubleheaders, we’ll try to keep this momentum rolling and make a push for a postseason play at the state tournament in Cowley,” Laughlin said.

The A West conference is made up of five teams: Powell, Cody, Lovell, Riverton and Green River. The top four squads will get to play in the state tournament, meaning Powell will have to overtake Green River in the standings. The Pioneers’ conference record stands at 1-11. Cody is leading the conference with a 7-1 record followed by Lovell (7-3), Riverton (8-6) and Green River (3-5).