PaddleHeads Open Postseason With 6-2 Victory Over Mustangs

Billings, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads began their postseason push on Monday evening in Game 1 of the Pioneer League Northern Division Series Opposite the Billings Mustangs. Missoula would face a road test in the opening game of this best of 3 series with Dehler Park being the venue for Monday's ballgame. Missoula's success with the long ball played a big part in the PaddleHeads offensive success during the regular season. Missoula wasted no time setting the tone on this Monday evening using that very weapon to immediately jump out in front. 

Brandon Riley would immediately put the PaddleHeads ahead in the top of the first inning, sending a leadoff home run over the right field wall to give Missoula an early 1-0 advantage. The PaddleHeads would never relinquish the lead from that point forward as the offense would do their part collecting 12 hits on the night. Domingo Pena, and the PaddleHeads pen would also support the effort of the offense, never allowing the Mustangs to get going offensively as Missoula would take game 1 by a tally of 6-2. The PaddleHeads now return home to Missoula for Game 2 with an opportunity to advance to the Pioneer League Championship Series. 

After Riley's home run in the top of the 1st, Missoula would tack on another run in the opening frame thanks to Nick Gatewood. The Georgia State product would single through the left side scoring Lamar Sparks to make the score 2-0. Gatewood would finish 2-for-4 in the win while Riley was 2-for-5. After this early jolt from the offense, Missoula would take control of the game a few frames later thanks once again to home run power. 

Sparks would get things rolling in the top of the 4th, recording his 2nd double of the game to bring home a run to start a 3-run rally. Jared Akins would then deliver the big blow with a towering 2-run blast that soured over the right field wall to make the score 5-1. Akins would also help wind out the scoring for Missoula one inning later hitting a sacrifice fly to bring Missoula's run total to 6. Akins tallied 3 RBIs in the win finishing 1-for-3. Sparks also chipped in hitting a pair of doubles to finish the night 2-for-5. 

Designated Hitter Andrew Fernandez would provide the only spark offensively for Billings driving in a pair for the Mustangs over the course of the action. Fernandez would get the Mustangs on the board in the 2nd hitting a solo home run to right field. Fernandez singled home another run in the 6th to bring Billing's final run to the plate to make the score 6-2.Pena would hold the line for the vast bulk of the night however in his start on the bump ahead of a solid effort from the bullpen. 

Pena would keep the Mustangs in check over 6 solid innings allowing 5 hits over those frames while striking out 5 earning the win for his efforts. After the departure of Pena, the PaddleHeads bullpen would make sure the Mustangs would never have a chance to fight their way back into it in the final 3 frames. 

The late inning combination of Cody Thompson, Mark Simon, and Sam Hellinger would slam the door shut in the final 3 innings of the ballgame. The trio would not allow a single hit over those 3 frames with the only runner getting aboard on a hit batsman in the 7th. Simon, and Hellinger would pitch a pair of clean innings in the final 2 innings ensuring Missoula would escape Dehler Park with a crucial win on the road. 

After the game 1 victory, Missoula will now have a day to reboot as Tuesday will be an offday. The PaddleHeads will then have a chance to punch their ticket to the Pioneer League Championship Series on Wednesday night in game 2 of the series opposite the Mustangs. The series will also shift to Allegiance Field at Ogren Park Wednesday. Tickets are still available online at www.gopaddleheads.com. First pitch from the Garden City is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. If you can't make it out to the field, tune in on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.