PaddleHeads Strike in ‘Peanut Inning’ to Blow By Raptors

Missoula, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads welcomed the Ogden Raptors to Allegiance Field at Ogren Park on Friday night in game 4 of a 6 game series. Action would remain tight through the first 5 innings as both teams would hold a slight advantage at specific points over that stretch. Things would shift dramatically in the 6th inning however to the delight of the home crowd during 'the peanut inning.'

The crowd in the Garden City would relentlessly cheer on the PaddleHeads offense during a sixth inning rally that saw Missoula put 6 runs on the board to give the PaddleHeads an 11-5 advantage. Furthermore, the PaddleHeads would outscore the Raptors 11-1 in the fifth through seventh innings to break the game wide open in a 14-6 victory. With the win, Missoula took a 3-1 series lead in the 6 game set. 

Jayson Newman would send the Missoula crowd into a frenzy in the 6th inning rally with a bases loaded double that would send everyone home to give Missoula a 7-5 advantage. Keaton Greenwalt would also strike with a double himself in the frame as Missoula would stretch its lead in the inning. 

Nick Gatewwod would keep the ball rolling offensively in the next half inning  with an RBI single as Missoula would continue to pile it on in a 3-run rally. Greenwalt would also add to his RBI, and hit total in the inning with a double before Jared Akins knocked him in with an RBI single. Gatewood would finish 2-for-4 and Greenwalt was 2-for-5. Akins would also enjoy a fabulous night going 3-for-4 with an RBI. 

The Raptors would stay in the game early thanks to the home run ball. Sonny Ulliana would give Ogden an early 3-1 lead in the 3rd with a 2-run blast to left field to make the score 3-1. Later in the sixth, Jesus Valdez would strike to knot things up at 5-5 with a solo blast after Missoula took the lead in the previous inning. Those early swings would fail to keep Ogden in the game however as the PaddleHeads offense would flex its muscles down the stretch. 

Before the big rally in the sixth, Newman would give Missoula a 5-4 lead with a 2-run homerun. The Southern California product added to his league leading home run total in the process with his 22nd long ball of the season. Newman would finish the night 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs. 

Austin Crowson delivered another solid outing on the hill Friday allowing just 2 earned runs over 5 innings to move his record to 6-0 on the season on the mound. The southpaw would scatter 5 hits over those frames while striking out 6 batters. Cody Thompson was also solid in 3 innings of work out of the pen allowing just 1 run while striking out 4. 

The PaddleHeads (38-13) will look to clinch a series win in the 6 game set Saturday night in game 5 opposite the Raptors (30-22). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. All the action can be heard on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.