The first six innings were a pitching-duel between Nick Keur (Pioniers) and Kevin Kelly (Neptunus).
Pioniers was the most productive team in these at bats, as six batters reached base, who recorded five basehits and took an 1-0 lead off of Kelly, who struckout eight batters in 6 1/3 inning.
Neptunus reached base only twice and registered only one basehit in the first six innings off of Keur, who struckout eight batters in 7 2/3 inning.
After retiring the side in the first inning, Nick Keur gave up a 2-out single to Daniel Fernandes in the second inning, but closed with a strikeout.
It would take until the seventh inning for Neptunus to register its next basehit.
The lefthander then retired the side in the third, fourth and fifth inning, striking out four batters.
Keur then added another hitless inning in the sixth, but saw Neptunus reach third base for the first time in this game.
He walked lead-off hitter Gregory Muller, who moved on a sacrifice bunt by Shaldimar Daantji and a grounder by Stijn van der Meer, but then was left behind.
With Pioniers still leading only 1-0, Keur gave up his second basehit in the seventh inning when Christian Diaz singled with two outs.
Moments later, Diaz was eliminated at first base on a pick-off by catcher Quintin De Cuba to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pioniers struck with four runs to take more distance.
Max Draijer led off with a double, then next batter Shurman Marlin homered to give Pioniers a 3-0 lead.
After giving up the homerun, Kevin Kelly hit next batter Quintin De Cuba on his third delivery.
With one out, De Cuba stole second base, then Mark Smit walked, which led to a pitching change.
Jan Tomek took over, but the Czech righthander began with a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third base.
He then got the bases loaded when he walked Joey Eeman.
Pioniers added another run when Tomek also walked Mervin Gario, which led to a new pitching change.
Loek van Mil took over, but he gave up a sacrifice fly to Dudley Leonora that lifted the lead to 5-0.
Van Mil then walked Jeffrey Arends, but the inning ended when he was picked off on first base by Neptunian catcher Gianison Boekhoudt.
In the top of the eighth inning, Neptunus began another comeback, as it scored three runs.
Up to this moment, Neptunus had recorded only two basehits, but the team added three more in this at bat.
Daniel Fernandes led off with a single, then Gregory Muller singled with one out and both scored when Shaldimar Daantji followed with a double.
When an error at the plate followed in this situation, Daantji was able to reach third base.
He then scored the third run for Neptunus on a sacrifice fly by Stijn van der Meer that made it a 5-3 score.
It also led to a pitching change, as Nick Keur was relieved by Glenn Wassink, who got an inning-ending flyout.
After Pioniers had left a runner behind in the bottom of the eighth inning, Neptunus narrowed the deficit to only 5-4 in the top of the ninth.
Gianison Boekhoudt led off with a homerun, but next batter Dwayne Kemp flied out.
With lefthanded hitting Christian Diaz being the next hitter, lefthander Scott Ronnenbergh was summoned to the mound.
He got a grounder from Diaz, had done his job and was relieved by rookie Luuk ter Beek.
The righthander, who had made his big league-debut as closer in last Thursday's game, faced Daniel Fernandes.
On Thursday, Ter Beek also faced Fernandes as his first batter and then struck him out.
Today, he came close to doing the same, as he got the count to 0-2, but this time, Fernandes flied out.
That ended the game and earned Ter Beek his first big league save, while Pioniers secured its spot in the Championship Pool.
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Pioniers defeats Neptunus again to reach Play-Offs
HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
Hoofddorp Pioniers won 5-4 on Sunday (July 23) against Curaçao Neptunus to become the fourth and last team to reach the Championship Pool (or Play-Offs).
Because of the win by Pioniers, DSS became the last team to be eliminated for the final-four.
Game started 45 minutes later due to rain and field maintenance.