PaddleHeads Complete 3-Game Sweep Of Chukars Thursday
Missoula Bats Tally 58 Runs Over 3 Game Set In Idaho Falls
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 17 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Missoula PaddleHeads wrapped up their regular season slate with the Idaho Falls Chukars on Thursday night in the finale of a 3-game series. Offensive success paved the way for Missoula over the course of the first 2 games of the series highlighted by a team record run total of 25 runs Wednesday. In action on Thursday, the PaddleHeads would tally their lowest run total in the series. Idaho Falls also would score over 10 runs for the 3rd time in the series in the finale. Despite these factors, it still was not enough to avoid the sweep.
7 men in the PaddleHeads order would tally 2 hits or more over the course of the contest that never saw Missoula trail throughout. The best stretch of success offensively for Missoula was innings 5 through 7 scoring 10 runs in those frames. The Chukars would keep things interesting in 3 sizable rallies on the flipside but never would be able to slow down Missoula enough in a 15-11 win for the PaddleHeads. Over the course of the 3-game series the PaddleHeads offense would tally 58 runs averaging over 19 runs per game in those contests.
After a scoreless first, the PaddleHeads offense would get going in the next 2 innings bringing 4 runs home. Josh Elvir would get his night going in the 2nd hitting a double into the gap in right center to bring home the game's first run. Elvir would later score in the inning on a single to right center from Patrick Chung. Chung would score 2 runs in the win as part of a 2-for-4 effort. Elvir was just getting started.
Collin Runge did a lot of the heavy lifting in the inning that followed as 2 more runs would come in to score. The Oregon native would knock in a run with a sharp single up the middle before scoring on a wild pitch that made the score 4-0. Runge would knock in 2 overall as part of a 2-for-5 night. The Chukars would find an answer an inning later with one swing getting them right back into it.
With 2-outs recorded, Jacob Jabloski would jump on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the 4th hitting a ball over the left field wall with a pair of runners on. The 3-run home run for the Chukars left fielder would trim the PaddleHeads advantage to 4-3. The 1st year Chukar would be heard from again allowing Idaho Falls to hang around.
The PaddleHeads attack would strike right back in the 5th, and 6th innings to build the lead to 6 runs. Missoula would tally 5 runs in the frames with each run scoring with 2-outs in the inning. A triple from Elvir would get the PaddleHeads rolling in the 5th knocking in a pair. Taylor Smith would then immediately send a double down the left field line to give Missoula a 7-3 lead. Smith wrapped up the night finishing 2-for-5.
Adam Fogel and Alec Sanchez would bring home 2 more runs on a single and a double with 2 outs in the 6th, expanding the advantage to 9-3. Sanchez would reach 4 times in the win finishing 3-for-5 in his at-bats. Jablonski made sure Idaho Falls would not go down without a fight in the bottom of the inning.
The Arkansas State product would clear the bases with a double in the right center field to highlight a 4-run rally in the 6th. Jablonski would then score on a single from pinch hitter Nick Iannitone that made the score 9-7. Jablonski knocked in 6 runs over the course of the game in a 2-for-5 performance. However, Missoula's biggest rally in the 7th would prove to be too much to overcome.
Elvir would put an exclamation point on his outstanding performance leading off the 7th inning with a solo blast to left center field. Missoula would go on to send 9 more batters to the plate in the inning scoring 5 runs as a result. Elvir would finish just a single shy of the cycle knocking in 4 runs in a 3-for-5 performance. Singles from Sanchez, Runge, and Roberto Pena would all do damage in the frame as well that saw the PaddleHeads extend its lead to 14-7. Idaho Falls proved to have one last gasp left to make things interesting down the stretch.
A 4-run rally in the bottom of the 9th would trim the PaddleHeads advantage to that margin. Singles from Tyler Wyatt, and Roberto Gonzolez plated runs before Wyatt scored on a wild pitch that made the score 15-11. The PaddleHeads would then turn to Ethan Swanson to settle things down.
Missoula's most effective reliever would earn the save recording the final 2 outs of the bottom of the 9th. The 3rd year pro would make sure the Chukars would not have any further ideas of a comeback striking out consecutive hitters to earn his 5th save. Jestin Jones, and Noah McBride would both turn in solid outings as well in the pen in 3 scoreless frames combined finishing with 4 strikeouts.
The PaddleHeads wrapped up a 9 game road trip Thursday taking home win 8 of those contests. Missoula has also won each of the last 5 games played overall. They now turn their attention to the final 3 games of the 1st half back at home squaring off with a familiar foe.
The PaddleHeads (35-10) will now open a 3-game set Friday night hosting the defending league champion Ogden Raptors (21-23). Ogden has improved immensely over the course of the half. After starting the season (2-10), Ogden has turned things around finishing 19-13 over their last 32 games. Action begins with a 7:15 first pitch from Allegiance Field Ogren Park. Catch all the action live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com if you can't get to the ballpark in person.
