Normally, opening games of each series are played on Thursday night. But since it is Kingsday in the Netherlands, a national holiday, the opening games of this round were played last night. Hoofddorp Pioniers clinched a hard fought victory over UVV.
Hoofddorp Pioniers 7 – 3 UVV
Still dead last in the standings with only one victory, UVV gave Hoofddorp Pioniers a hard time last night. For a while, it even looked like the team from Utrecht would clinch its second victory of the season.
After Ryan Wheat could score the opening run for UVV on a passed ball, Pioniers tied the game in the next inning when Duncan Beljaards drew a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Vincent Peter Mevissen’s single.
In the next three-and-a-half innings, neither team would score, but in the bottom of the sixth frame, with the bases loaded and two outs, UVV pushed for two runs. Etienne van Tielbaden drew an RBI walk, and so did Timothy Rojas.
In the top of the seventh inning, Pioniers cut UVV’s lead in half when Jack van Gorkum scored on Bodhi de Vreede’s groundout.
Eventually, in the top of the eighth inning, Pioniers scored five runs to clinch a rather flattered victory, although it must be said that UVV’s pitching collapsed and was hit hard and the defense committed a critical error. UVV didn’t have the opportunity to get back in the game as the game ended after eight innings due to the curfew rule. 
Winning pitcher was Maarten Smit, who pitched 2.1 innings in relief and limited UVV to one hit, walked two, and struck out one. Aaron Isenia took the loss. He allowed five runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks as he struck out three in two innings.
Andreas Meijer was the best hitter for Hoofddorp Pioniers. He went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Other results on day one of round four were:
Curaçao Neptunus 10 – 0 Oosterhout Twins (seven innings)
Quick Amersfoort 2 – 12 Amsterdam Pirates (seven innings)
HCAW 9 – 0 RCH/Pinguïns
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