PaddleHeads Bullpen Holds The Line Down the Stretch in Win
Missoula Holds Great Falls Offense in Check to Open 6-Game Slate
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Missoula, MT- The Misoula PaddleHeads opened a six game slate in the Garden City Tuesday night opposite the Great Falls Voyagers at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. After the Voyagers had the upper hand in Great Falls over the weekend, Missoula would be locked in a tight battle with the Voyagers in the opening game of the series. After the PaddleHeads took an early 2-0 lead, Great Falls would knot things up in the sixth thanks to a pair of 2-out singles. This would set up a pitchers duel the rest of the way. Luckily for the PaddleHeads, the bullpen would be up to the task.
After the Voyagers tied the game in the sixth inning, the PaddleHeads pen would not budge. Cody Thompson, and Dan Swain would get things started in 2 ⅔ scoreless innings combined. Swain would look especially strong in his inning of work in the eighth striking out the side in the inning. Then in the ninth, Jayson Newman would once again overpower the opposition on the hill to earn his second save of the season in a 4-2 win for the PaddleHeads.
The combination of Newman, Swain, and Thompson would be in complete control of the Voyagers down the stretch finishing with 6 strikeouts combined over 3 ⅓ innings of work. The success of Missoula's relievers has also been a key to Missoula success as the PaddleHeads bullpen currently holds a 1.34 ERA in 25 ⅔ innings pitched in relief this season.
The PaddleHeads jumped on top in the early going thanks to Cameron Thompson who would give Missoula the early advantage in the third inning with a sacrifice fly. Thompson would also get credit for another RBI in the fifth on an RBI groundout to make the score 2-0. Great Falls would find an answer the next half inning however in a pair of clutch at-bats.
With two outs already recorded, Riley Jepson, and Tyler Krabbe would both come up big with runners in scoring position with a pair of RBI singles to tie the game at 2. Jepson had an outstanding night in a losing effort for Great Falls finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk while Krabbe finished 1-for-4.
After a double to start the sixth inning from designated hitter Nick Gatwood, Keaton Greenwalt would follow suit with a double of his own to give Missoula the lead for good. Another run would later score on a wild pitch in the inning. The two run cushion would prove to be plenty for the bullpen down the stretch as Great Falls saw only one runner reach in the final three innings.
Missoula (5-2) now sits a half game behind the Glacier Range Riders (5-1) in the early race atop the Northern Division Standings. Great Falls is also right in the thick of it as well with their record standing at (5-2) overall. The PaddleHeads will look to keep the momentum going Wednesday in game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. If you can't make it out to the game, catch all the action live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
