Pilot Leads Missoula Past Former Club in 5-1 Win

Billings MT- Kelvan Pilot made a name for himself in the Pioneer League over the course of the last 2 seasons as a member of the Billings Mustangs. The Northern California native was the Opening Day starter for Billings during the 2022 season. The veteran right hander returned to the mound at Dehler Park on Friday night in Game 4 of the series on the opposite end of the spectrum making his PaddleHeads debut. It would not take long for Pilot to make his mark for his new club. 

The PaddleHeads offense immediately took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st to get off and rolling for the second consecutive game. This early cushion proved to be all Pilot would need as the righty would not allow a single run over the course of his start. Billings would not muster any offense until the final inning allowing Missoula to cruise to a comfortable 5-1 win to even the 6 game slate at 2 games apiece. 

Missoula would tack on a pair of runs in the top of the first thanks to a pair of walks with the bases loaded which made the score 2-0. After adding another run in the third inning, Kamron Willman would come up big in a clutch situation in the 5th hitting an RBI single with 2-outs to make the score 4-0. Willman would finish the night 1-for-4. On the other side of the spectrum, Pilot never allowed the Mustangs offense an opportunity to dig out of the hole. 

Pilot struck out at least 1 batter in each of his 6 shutout innings on the mound on his way to a win for the PaddleHeads. Pilot would finish the night with 7 punch outs while scattering 5 hits over his innings of work. Missoula's starting pitchers have now allowed only 1 run over their last 13 innings pitched going back to action on Thursday evening. 

The PaddleHeads would stretch their lead to their largest of the night in the 6th thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat off Cameron Thompson which scored Keaton Greenwalt to make the score 5-0. Greenwalt would reach base 4 times on the night finishing 2-for-3 while Thompson was 1-for-3 with an RBI. The bullpen would then make sure Billings would not be allowed to gain any traction on the comeback trail. 

John LaRossa, and Karl Blum would both turn in solid outings out of the pen as the duo would both throw a scoreless frame in the final 3 innings of action. LaRossa, and Blum would strike out 3 combined over 2 innings allowing only 1 baserunner. Billings would scratch a run across in the 9th inning to break up the shutout, but did not pose a threat outside of that. 

Missoula (2-2) will now look to gain an advantage in this 6-game slate after falling in the first 2 games of the series to the Mustangs (2-2). Action on Saturday evening is slated to begin at 6:35 at Dehler Park. Catch every pitch on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.