Clinching a region bid won’t be easy for the Pioneers.

With a spot in the District 6AAA finals awaiting, along with a third-straight region berth on the line, Warren County was blasted 14-2 by the White County Warriors Monday night in Sparta.

The pivotal Game 3 of the series was played late Tuesday night. Check the Standard website for the latest details.

Warren County (17-19) had a chance to end the series with a sweep Monday, but the Warriors used a nine-run fourth inning to end the game early.

The Pioneers had no answers for White County in the fourth inning, when the home bats were hot and Warren County struggled to find the strike zone. Already trailing 5-1, Warren County needed three pitchers to get three outs against the Warriors. Before the frame finally ended, White County had belted five hits to go along with six free passes to lead 14-1.

Dylan Ward scored both his team’s runs and finished with two hits. Ryland Holder and Hunter Adams each had RBIs.

With a win Tuesday, the Pioneers would advance to play Cookeville in the district finals Wednesday.