PaddleHeads Limit Range Riders To 4 Hits in Win
Clark Strikes Out 9 In 5-3 Win Over Glacier Wednesday
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 0 |
MISSOULA, MT - After a big night for both offenses in the series opener on Tuesday, Wednesday would be a much different story in action between the Glacier Range Riders and Missoula PaddleHeads. After tallying runs in 3 of the first 4 innings, the Missoula attack would go quiet with great work in the Glacier bullpen playing a big role. As a result, the Range Riders were within striking distance in a low scoring battle throughout the contest. Thanks to Jonathan Clark, and the rest of the PaddleHeads staff, Glacier would never find a way to break through.
Clark would work his way through 6 innings of work effectively allowing just 4 hits. The bullpen combination of Noah McBride, Arman Sabouri, and Ethan Swanson would then slam the door over the final 3 innings by not allowing a single hit in a 5-3 win. Despite not scoring in their final 4 frames offensively, the PaddleHeads managed to hold off Glacier, expanding their lead atop the standings to 5 games over the 2nd place Range Riders.
Home run power would be the idea for both offenses in the early going providing a lot of the production for both teams. After reaching on a single in the first, Adam Fogel would hit his 2nd home run of the series in the 3rd knocking in a pair to make the score 3-0. Fogel now leads the league in home runs on the season (13) and would finish 2-for-4 Wednesday. A pair of Glacier home runs in the middle innings would keep the Range Riders right in it.
Ben Fitzgerald would get Glacier on the board in the 4th with a solo home run making the score 3-1. In the next frame, another home run with 2-outs from Gabe Howell would also cut into a PaddleHeads advantage making the score 5-3. This would be the final time either team would find the scoreboard with bullpen work on both sides keeping things in check.
Consecutive home runs for Missoula in the 4th would prove to be the difference as Collin Runge, and Josh Elvir would go deep in consecutive at-bats to bring Missoula's run total to 5. Elvir would finish the game 2-for-4 while Runge chipped in finishing 1-for-4. The limited success offensively would prove to be enough for Clark, and the rest of the pen.
Clark earned the win for Missoula in his 6 innings of work allowing just 4 hits while striking out 9 batters. Clark has pitched into the 5th or later in each of his last 4 outings and has not given up more than 4 runs in any of those starts. The Glacier bullpen would keep things close coming down the stretch however with a rookie playing the biggest role.
Southpaw Aiden McEvoy was absolutely stellar for Glacier in 3 ⅔ scoreless innings. The product of Georgia State would retire 11 of 12 batters faced in one stretch and would allow only 2 base runners total in the outing. McEvoy would also strike out 7 batters with a nasty slider being his deadliest weapon. The outing would be in a losing effort however with Missoula's pen also holding things in check.
The trio of McBride, Sabouri, and Swanson would strikeout 7 batters over the final 3 frames with no hits allowed. After 2 combined innings from Sabouri, and McBride, Swanson would be called upon in the 9th for the 2nd consecutive game. The Oklahoma native would also strike out the side for the 2nd consecutive night as well to earn his 3rd save of the season.
Behind their 5th consecutive win, Missoula (25-7) also saw its lead expand to that margin over Glacier (20-12) on Wednesday night in the Pioneer League standings. Game 3 awaits in this 6 game set Thursday night in action between these Treasure State outfits. Action on a 'Thirsty Thursday' kicks off at 7:15 p.m. at Allegiance Field Ogren Park. Tune in on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com if you cannot make it out to the ballpark in person.
