Mustangs Sweep Twin Bill Sunday Opposite PaddleHeads
Lomack Tallies 8 Combined Hits In 2 Billings Wins Sunday
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 |
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0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 |
MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads and Billings Mustangs brought a 6-game series to an end on Sunday afternoon with a double header at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. After playing in 12 innings of play the night prior, it surely would be a test for both clubs to get through 2 more 7 inning affairs. Thanks in large part to one man at the top of the order for the visitors from the Magic City, the Mustangs would find an advantage.
Leadoff man Taylor Lomack would tally 4 hits in both games of the doubleheader Sunday to pace the Billings attack in both contests. 8 combined home runs in the 2 games would also be a big factor for the Mustangs attack that would prove to have the upperhand in both contests. Gabe Wurtz would tally 2 home runs in game 1 as part of a 9-6 win. Jacob Kline would then launch 3 home runs as part of a 16-11 win for Billings, keying rallies in 3 separate innings down the stretch.
Lomack got things started right off the bat for the Mustangs in the first 2 innings of game 1. The 2nd year Mustang would score the first run of the game in the top of the 1st after reaching on a single. Billings would then jump to the lead with a big rally in the next half with Lomack playing a big role.
The former Padres farmhand would lace a double to left to bring home a pair as part of a 4-run rally that made the score 5-1. Lomack would go on to finish 4-for-5 in game 1 with a pair of runs scored and 2 RBIs. Home run power would then ensure that Billings kept a comfortable lead.
After homering in the 2nd inning, Wurtz would find more power in the 6th launching a 2-run blast to give the Mustangs their largest lead of game 1 at 9-3. Wurtz would finish with 4 home runs in the 6 game slate and finished 2-for-4 in game 1 Sunday. Missoula would battle back in their half of the 6th.
Kamron Willman ensured that the PaddleHeads would not go down without a fight in the 6th inning, recording a 2-run single to cut the Billings advantage to 4. A bases loaded walk from Roberto Pena also would put the heat on making it a 3-run game. A double play would turn Missoula away in the frame however, allowing Billings to escape the late inning situation with no more damage done. Willman finished 2-for-3 in the game 1 loss. Missoula's attack would provide more punch in game 2, but it would prove to not be enough.
Gary Lora would vault the Mustangs to the lead himself in the early going in game 2 knocking in 5 runs in 2 separate at-bats. A 3-run home run would get the Mustangs rolling in game 2 in the top of the 1st inning. The lead would then swell to 5 in the top of the 3rd thanks to a 2-run double from the rookie 1st baseman. Lora finished 2-for-3 with 5 driven in in the victory. The Missoula offense would rebut this effort in the 2 innings that followed.
The PaddleHeads would put 6 runs on the board in the 3rd and 4th innings to vault themselves to the lead for the first and only time. Pena would get Missoula back within a run with a 2-run double as part of a 3-run rally in the 3rd inning. After an RBI double from Patrick Chung, Pena would give Missoula the lead in the 4th with a single to bring Chung home. Pena knocked in 3 over the course of the contest finishing 2-for-3. This jolt to the lead would prove to be short lived.
Kline would prove to be too much to handle down the stretch as the 3rd year veteran would homer in each of his last 3 at-bats in game 2. A pair of home runs in the 5th, and 6th would both bring in 2-runs a piece as Billing extended its lead out to 11-7. The Ohio native would then deliver the knockout blow in the 7th hitting a 3-run home run as the lead for Billings swelled to 16-10. Missoula would tally 1 run in their half of the 7th but would not threaten further.
When it was all said and done in game 2 Kline would finish with 7 RBIs as part of a 4-for-5 performance. Lomack also did his part from the top of the order for the 2nd consecutive game finishing 4-for-5 with 4 runs scored. This sweep of the twin bill for Billings allowed the Mustangs to salvage a split of the 6 game series. With this being the final game of a 9 game homestand for Missoula, the PaddleHeads will now shift their attention to a 3-game set on the road.
The PaddleHeads (45-15) will now get ready to make their first appearance in Great Falls this season in action with the Voyagers (21-39). This will be the first of 9 games played in the 2nd half for Missoula in the Electric City. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening from Centene Stadium. Stay in touch with all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.
