Voyagers Bats Come Alive In Game 1

Home Cooking Leads To A Win For Voyagers

(Great Falls, Mt. ) The Great Falls Voyagers (6-14) came into the short 3-game home series versus the Billings Mustangs (8-14) in dire need of a win. The Voyagers losing their last 8 games in a row, looked to change their luck with some home cooking after six games on the road. Whatever they ate must have worked as the Voyagers exploded for 16 hits as they went on to win 14-5.
The Voyagers were able to score at least one run in every inning except for the third inning. The game started with a double to left center by Riley Jepson. Jepson was brought home on a big home run over the right field fence by Ryan McCarthy, a ball that traveled 434' before touching down. The second inning saw the inning start off with a double from Cal Bocchino, who was brought around on a single to center by Voyager catcher Nick Emanuel.
Leading 3-0 going to the top of the 3rd, the Mustangs were able to cut the lead to 3-1 in the 3rd, with the Voyagers not able to answer in the bottom of the inning. The top of the 4th saw the Mustangs tie it up on two runs, but the Voyagers didn't waste any time getting the lead back. Jaylyn Williams started the 4th off with a single to right field. Jake Malec bunted for a single, then both Williams and Malec moved up 90' on two throwing errors by the Mustangs. Bocchino picked up two Rbi's on a single to left, stole second, and moved to third on the third error of the inning by the Mustangs. Bocchino was brought home on a single to right field by Matthew Richardson.
Leading 6-3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning behind some quality pitching for starter Andrew Garcia, the Voyagers added some insurance runs in the bottom of the 5th. Two walks by McCarthy and Williams led to a 2 rbi hit to left by Jake Malec. The Voyagers gave one run back in the 6th to make it 8-4 going to the bottom of the 6th inning.
Voyager bats answered with one of their own in their half of the inning as Jepson had a double to left and was brought home on a single to center by McCarthy. The game was put out of reach in the 7th inning as the Voyager's Bocchino drew a walk and stole second and third base. Emanuel drew a walk and gave way to pinch runner Brady Held. Richardson also drew a walk to load the bases, and Jepson delivered a 2 rbi single to right to make it an 11-4 lead after seven innings.
Mustangs were able to score one in the top of the 8th, but the Voyagers made no doubt of the win as they scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. Malec and Bocchino both drew walks to start the inning off, followed by a single to right by Charley Hesse to load the bases. Emanuel pushed across his second and third rbi of the night with a line-drive single to center field. Richardson reached with a single to right, and Collin Runge pushed Hesse across with a ground out to third to give the Voyagers a 14-5 lead and victory as relief pitcher Ethan Swanson came in to shut down the Mustangs in the 9th and secure the win.
The Voyagers will look to start a winning streak as they will face the Mustangs in game 2 of this 3-game series Saturday night at 7 p.m. It's Father's Day weekend, so bring Dad out for a couple of games starting with Saturday night and Sunday morning at 11:30. See you at the ballpark!!