7-Run 9th Inning Leads PaddleHeads Past Mustangs

BILLINGS, MT - Most of the action in Game 4 of this 6 game slate between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Billings Mustangs would be dictated by outstanding starting pitching. PaddleHeads starter Nick Parker was absolutely dominant through his first 6 innings on the mound allowing just 1 hit in those innings. On the flipside, Mustangs starter Ethan McRrae would walk out of the dugout in the top of the 9th in an effort to claim a complete game win. For the 3rd night in a row it seemed the PaddleHeads offense would not find enough trailing by a 5 run margin in the top of the 9th. A 7-run rally however would seemingly bring the PaddleHeads back from the dead. 

Missoula would send 11 men to the plate as part of a 7-run rally in the top of the 9th that saw the PaddleHeads miraculously take their first lead of the evening with hits, walks and one crucial error playing a role. Ethan Swanson would then pitch through a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 9th striking out the side to preserve the save as the PaddleHeads would escape with a 9-7 win.

The rally in the top of the 9th began in a unique way as Collin Runge would beat out an infield hit on a chopper to the shortstop. 4 consecutive walks would then result in a pair of runs scoring to trim Billings' advantage. The PaddleHeads would then make it 6 in a row reaching base thanks to Mike Rosario, and Roberto Pena as both batters with single home runs on line drives through the right side. After an RBI groundout tied the game, Missoula would see the lead runs come home thanks to a critical defensive mistake.  

With Runge batting for the 2nd time in the 9th, the 3rd baseman would dribble a grounder up the 1st base line with 2 men aboard. 1st baseman Gabe Wurtz would then see the ball come out of the heel of his glove on the play. The error saw both Rosario, and Sanchez race home allowing Missoula their first lead at 9-7. Despite this valiant effort, Billings would do all they could to mount a rally in their half of the 9th. 

The first 3 batters of the bottom of the 9th would reach base resulting in a very strenuous situation. Ethan Swanson would then be called upon looking to hold off a Mustangs rally. The 2nd year PaddleHead would do that and then some by striking out 3 consecutive batters to bring the game to a halt. The 2nd PaddleHeads earned his 2nd save of the season as a result. 

Parker would set the tone for a large bulk of the contest on the mound in what would be a low scoring affair for the bulk of the night. Billings would be limited to just 1 hit in Parker's first 6 innings of work. The Texas native would also retire the first 10 batters he faced consecutively. In the end Parker would strike out 10 batters in 6 ⅔ innings pitched. The final out of the 7th would prove to be elusive however, allowing Billings to push to the lead. 

A 5-run rally from the Mustangs would give Billings a lead in a blink after having little to no success over the first six innings. After a double from Pat Mills tied the game, consecutive singles with 2-outs from Jason Rooks, Blake Evans, and Taylor Lomack all did damage, knocking in runs as the Mustangs took a 5-1 lead. Prior to Missoula's wild comeback in the 9th, the only success they would find offensively came from the longball. 

A pair of solo home runs would be the only way Missoula would scratch runs across in the first 8 innings. Runge would knock in the game's first run with a solo blast in the 4th making the score 1-0.  Pena would later homer in the 8th in a 4-run deficit to cut the lead to 5-2. Pena, and Runge were both highlights offensively in the win with Runge finishing 3-for-4 and Pena finishing 3-for-5. 

A 2-run single from Briley Knight in the bottom of the 8th inning would give the Mustangs a seemingly comfortable advantage in the inning as Billings would hold a 7-2 advantage. In a huge turn of momentum however, the PaddleHeads offense was able to pull itself off the canvas behind a wacky 9th inning. The end result would be a comeback win to remember on a Friday night at Dehler Park to even things up in this 6-game slate. 

Game 5 of the series will come your way Saturday night in the final night game of the series in Billings between the PaddleHeads (21-7), and Mustangs (15-13). Action begins in the Magic City with a 6:35 first pitch. All the action can be followed live on 102.9 F.M. ESPN Missoula, and 1029espn.com.