6-Run 6th Leads Voyagers Past PaddleHeads Friday
Fernandez Knocks In 3 In 12-6 Win For Great Falls Friday
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
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0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 4 |
MISSOULA, MT - Play in a 6 game slate resumed between the Missoula PaddleHeads and Great Falls Voyagers on Friday after play was put on hold the night prior due to rain. Both teams found the win column in the first 2 games of the series with big nights of offensive production playing a role in wins for both teams. That trend would continue Friday as the victor would find a double digit run total once again. For the 2nd time in the series, it would be the bats of the Voyagers that would prove to have the advantage.
Great Falls would find their advantage thanks to big swings tallying 7 extra base hits as a team throughout the game. A 6-run rally in the top of the 6th inning would also play a big role allowing Great Falls to break the game open taking a 10-2 lead. This combined with a quality outing from starter Nate Madej allowed Great Falls to get into the win column for the 2nd time this week in a 12-6 win.
Extra base hit success for the Voyagers would get rolling in the early going thanks to Freddy Rojas Jr. The Great Falls 1st baseman would bring home the first run of the ball game with a solo blast to right field. Ryan Major would bring in the 2nd run of the inning on an RBI single making it 2-0. Major would contribute throughout finishing 2-for-4.
Missoula would keep things close early tying the game in the bottom of the 2nd. Alec Sanchez would see a run come home on a single to get things rolling. Catcher Hayden Travinski would then tie things up at 2 with a 2-out single. Missoula would not see things stay tied for long however thanks to another big swing.
Zane Washington ensured that the game would not spend much time deadlocked, launching the first pitch of the top of the 3rd over the wall to make the score 3-2. Washington would finish his night 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. The Voyagers attack would then put the game away collectively with a big rally in the 6th.
10 batters would fan the flames of a 6-run rally that saw Great Falls get to a double digit run total. After seeing a run score on a sacrifice fly, Antonio Fernandez would send one clear of the wall in left to give the Voyagers a 6-2 advantage. The Great Falls catcher was the highlight offensively finishing 3-for-4 Friday. Jack Lynch would then deliver the back breaking blow lacing a triple into the alley to make the score 10-2 to wind out the scoring in the 6th inning. This would leave plenty of room for error for Madej on the mound.
The southpaw would allow just 1 earned run over 5 innings of work to earn his 7th win of the season on the mound. The Illinois native would strike out 5 in those innings allowing 6 hits. Madej has also enjoyed success in 3 outings against the PaddleHeads this season allowing no more than 3 runs in each outing against them.
Missoula would get a bit of a jolt offensively in the 6th inning with success of their own with the long ball. A pair of home runs from Collin Runge, and Kamron Willman would trim the Great Falls lead to 10-5 a 3 run 6th inning. Willman wrapped up his night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Runge would reach base 4 times in the loss in a 2-for-3 effort. Missoula would not threaten further down the stretch however as the Voyagers would keep things under control. Both teams will now look ahead to a twin bill Saturday.
The PaddleHeads (55-20) will host a double header opposite the Voyagers (26-49) on Saturday evening to make up for Thursday's contest that was called off due to rain. Action begins with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch of game 1. Both contests will be 7 innings in length. Game 2 will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game of the day. All 14 innings can be heard live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.
