PaddleHeads Earn Fourth Win on Road Trip

Kalispell, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads continued their 6 game road trip on Tuesday evening opening up a 3 game set opposite the Glacier Range Riders at Flathead Field. Having played in Boise the night before, Tuesday's game presented a challenge having completed a long trek to get to the Flathead Valley. However, this proved to not slow the PaddleHeads down in the slightest.

Missoula would set the tone from the start with a rally in the top half of the first inning to take an early advantage. The Range Riders would remain within striking distance for much of the game, but would never lead at any point as Missoula would prevail in a 6-3 victory. 

Missoula jumped on Glacier in the top of the first inning thanks to a 3-run rally to lead 3-0 after the conclusion of the first inning. Brandon Riley would set the table in the frame leading things off with a single to start the inning. After a base hit from Lamar Sparks, Riley, and Sparks would both be driven in by a single from Nick Gatewood to give Missoula the early 2-0 lead. Cameron Thompson would later drive the third run of the inning home on a sacrifice fly to left. 

The single in the first for Riley would just be the start as the PaddleHeads' leadoff man would finish with a season high 4 hits in the contest going 4-for-5. Gatewood also chipped in with the 2 RBIs to finish 1-for-5. 

After Glacier cut into the lead in the second inning, Thompson would deliver a quick counter punch in the third with a triple that bounced off the wall in right field to score Keaton Greenwalt to make the score 4-1. It would prove to be the highlight of a solid night at the dish for Thompson who would go on to finish 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 driven in. 

The early support would prove to be enough for southpaw Austin Crowson who would earn his third win of the season. The Oregon native allowed 2 earned runs on only 4 hits over 5 ⅓ innings to move his record to 3-0 on the season. 

The Range Riders would inch their way back into the game in the fifth inning scoring a pair of runs thanks to an error to tighten up the score at 4-3. This would not phase Missoula however as the PaddleHeads would extend their lead in the next two frames. Glacier also would never get on the board again after the fifth. 

Kameron Willman would single home a run in the sixth to extend Missoula's lead back up to 5-3. Greenwalt would also get in on the act in the next half inning hitting a sacrifice fly to give Missoula a 3 run cushion down the stretch. This would prove to be more than enough for the PaddleHeads bullpen. Greenwalt would finish the night 2-for-4 and Willman was 1-for-3.

The combination of Dan Swain, Zach Torra, and Cody Thompson would not budge on the mound in 3 ⅔ innings of work out the bullpen. The Range Riders would only muster 1 hit over those frames. The Trio would also strike out 6 batters in those innings. Thompson closed the door for good in the ninth inning, pitching a clean frame to earn his first save of the season to give Missoula their eighth consecutive road win overall.  

Missoula (26-10) also received help on Tuesday night as the second place Great Falls Voyagers (21-15) fell in action against the Idaho Falls Chukars. Idaho Falls is now tied with Great Falls for second place in the North. Both teams are now 5 games back of the PaddleHeads in the first half pennant race in the Northern Division. 

Missoula will look to keep it rolling in game 2 of the series opposite the Range Riders (13-22) on Wednesday night. First pitch from Flathead Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Hear the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.