PaddleHeads Claw Back In 16-14 Victory Wednesday
Pena Tallies 4 Hits In Missoula Win Over Great Falls
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 1 |
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0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | X | 16 | 15 | 1 |
MISSOULA, MT - Outs would be tough to come by on both sides in game 2 of a six game set between the Missoula PaddleHeads and Great Falls Voyagers. 11 pitchers combined would take the mound throughout the course of the contest as both teams would tally 29 hits in the game. Both teams would also hold the lead over different stretches of action tallying 30 combined runs. Interestingly enough, the game would be brought to an end in the 9th thanks to great work on the mound.
The PaddleHeads would tally 4-runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 2-run Voyager advantage. This would set up late inning reliever Andrew Garcia with a chance to bring the game to an end. The former Voyager would show no fear striking out the side in the top of the 9th to clinch a dramatic 16-14 win over the Voyagers. The PaddleHeads offense has scored 34 combined runs in the first 2 games of the series to win their first 2 home games of the season.
The Voyagers would be the first team to lead out the gates and would lead for the bulk of the 1st 4 innings. Home run power would do damage in the 1st 2 innings as Livingston Morris, and Frank Podkul would give Great Falls a 3 run lead. Podkul would also knock in a pair with a single in the 3rd to make the score 5-2. Podkul would finish the night 2-for-5 with 3 driven in. Morris would prove to be a menace offensively throughout.
Home runs from Luis Navarro, and Roberto Pena would keep Missoula right on the heels of Great Falls in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Both 2-run home runs would cut the Great Falls lead to 1 run with Pena's blast in the 3rd making the score 5-4. Pena had a monster night at the plate in the win finishing 4-for-4 with 2 driven in. The Voyagers had their largest rally up their sleeve soon after however behind more success with the long ball.
Consecutive RBI doubles from Roberto Gonzolez, and Xane Washington would give a cushion right back to Great Falls in the 4th kicking off a 6-run rally. Morris would deliver the big blow in the frame with another home run to center field making the score 10-4. That would not be all for the former Range Rider offensively either. The PaddleHeads would climb back however with even more offense.
Adam Fogel would step into the box with the bases loaded in the 5th inning. Fogel would send a towering fly ball directly over the foul pole in right, hitting his first career grand slam in the process. This would cut the Great Falls lead to 10-9 as the PaddleHeads would fully erase the 5-run rally from the Voyagers in the top of the frame. One last push to the lead from Great Falls however would make it tough on Missoula down the stretch.
Morris would strike again with 2-outs in the 7th hitting a 2-run single to give Great Falls the lead once more at 14-12. Morris has homered 3 times in the fist 2 games of this series and would finish 3-for-5 Wednesday with 6 RBIs. The last bullet in the chamber offensively would prove to be enough for Missoula in the bottom of the 8th.
Colin Gordon would kick off a 4-run rally in the frame with a single to score Fogel. Gordon would finish a home run shy of the cycle in a 3-for-4 performance. Mike Rosario would come through later in the frame giving the PaddleHeads a lead they would not relinquish with a single through the right to make the score 16-14. This would finally be the end for both offenses as Garcia would earn his 3rd save in as many opportunities in a dominant 9th inning.
Missoula (11-3) will head to the midway point in this 6 game slate with the Voyagers (3-11) Thursday night at Allegiance Field Ogren Park. Both offenses will look to keep swinging the bats after seeing 60 combined runs cross the plate. First pitch in Missoula is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Hear the call on 102.9 F.M. ESPN Missoula and 1029espn.com.
