PaddleHeads Rally Past Billings in Eighth to Clinch Series Win

Missoula, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would get off to a great start in the first inning in game 2 of a three game set opposite the Billings Mustangs Thursday night taking an early 2-0 lead. After a solid performance on opening night, it looked like Missoula was on the right path after the quick start. However, Billings had other ideas, outscoring Missoula 7-0 in the next two innings to take a 7-2 lead. From that point forward, Missoula would continue to scratch, and claw its way back into the game. 

Trailing by two going into the bottom of the eighth, the PaddleHeads would set up a big inning with a pair of singles from right fielder Keaton Greenwalt, and pinch hitter Anders Green. After a pair of walks to load the bases, 3 runs would come in to score on wild pitches to flame the fire of a 4-run rally which gave Missoula the lead. Two-way standout Jayson Newman would do the rest in the top of the ninth to earn the save as Missoula would escape with an 11-9 win. 

After falling into an early whole, the PaddleHeads would trim the early Billings advantage to just one run in the bottom of the third thanks to a four run rally. Cameron Thompson would deliver the big blow in the frame with an RBI double to continue his early season success. The Kansas State product has finished with 3 hits in each of his first two games of the season. Thompson would finish the contest 3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 doubles. 

After the Mustangs tacked on a run in the top of the sixth to make the score 8-6, Missoula would have an answer in the seventh thanks to center fielder Larmar Sparks.  The former Orioles farmhand would lace a triple into the right center field gap in the frame to score McClain O'Conner from first base to make the score 8-7. That would prove to only tell part of the story for the Texas native who reached base 5 times in the game finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. 

The PaddleHead bullpen would be up to the task for the second consecutive night after starter Rafael Monsion would depart with two outs in the third inning. In 6 ⅔ innings of work, the PaddleHeads pen would allow only one earned run in that stretch to give Missoula the opportunity to claw their way back into it. Zachery Smith was fabulous in relief of Monsion pitching 2 ⅔ scoreless innings to quiet the Billings attack after a quick start. John LaRossa, and Newman would later do the rest down the stretch to hold the line for Missoula. 

The PaddleHeads (2-0) will look to break out the brooms in the series finale against the Mustangs (0-2) on Friday night in the Garden City. It will be a night to remember at the ballpark as well as the PaddleHeads will host their first fireworks spectacular of the season to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. Visit gopaddleheads.com to get your tickets now. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. if you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in on ESPN Missoula 102.9, and gopaddleheads.com.