PaddleHeads Split Twin Bill Opposite Great Falls

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads got their week kicked off on Wednesday night in a double header opposite the Great Falls Voyagers. Game 1 would feature a slow start for both offenses as neither team would tally a run in the 1st 2 innings. To say Great Falls would figure things out in the 3rd inning would be an understatement as a huge rally would lead the Voyagers to an advantage they would never give up. Game 2 saw the PaddleHeads bring calm to the waters however behind a showcase performance from their ace Alfredo Villa. 

The Voyagers would tally 9 hits in a huge rally in the 3rd inning in game 1 to jump out to a 9 run lead. The PaddleHeads would have their chances to tally runs through the evening but would be held off the board in game 1 in a 10-0 defeat. Missoula would turn things around in game 2 however, immediately finding success in the first inning with the long ball. This work in the early going would prove to be plenty for Villa who would take Missoula through the 7-inning game on the hill all the way through. This allowed Missoula to cruise to a win in game 2 to get the split of the double header by a tally of 9-2. 

The Voyagers would bring 12 batters to the plate as part of a 9-run rally in the inning of game 1. Xane Washington would bring home the first runs of the inning on a double off the wall in left center field. Later with the lead at 3-0, Anthony Herron Jr. would deliver a big body blow hitting a 3-run bomb to make the score 6-0. Herron Jr. would finish the night 2-for-4. Great Falls would only tally one run further the rest of the way but that would prove to be more than enough. 

The PaddleHeads would be held in check throughout game 1 by Voyagers starter Kelsey Ward. The former Toronto Blue Jays farmhand would throw 6 shutout innings while striking out 6. Missoula would see at least 2 men reach base in 4 separate innings against Ward, but the southpaw would keep Missoula in check pitching to contact and would also force a pair of double plays to keep the PaddleHeads off the board. 

The Missoula offense would make sure Great Falls would have no thoughts of a shutout in game 2 of the double header immediately jumping to the lead in the first inning behind a 5-run rally. Josh Elvir would get the rally started with a 2-run bomb to put Missoula in front 2-1. 3 batters later, Thomas DeBonville would give Missoula a 4-run lead with a 3-run home run of his own.DeBonville would have a huge night in the game 2 win finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, and a double. Elvir would knock in a pair in the win finishing 1-for-4. 

Villa would throw a complete game in a 7-inning affair for the 3rd time this season earning his 12th win of the year on the mound in the process. Kevin Hilton remains the only PaddleHeads starter to throw a 9 inning complete game doing so against Great Falls in a game at Centene Stadium back on July 4 of 2021. 

Villa would allow just one earned run over his 7 innings pitched while striking out 7 batters. Villa would see his ERA lower to 2.89 as a result of his performance which is the lowest ERA in the Pioneer League. Villa also leads the league in wins (12), and strikeouts (121).

The PaddleHeads (61-25) will play in a rubber match opposite the Voyagers (33-52) in the series finale on Thursday night at home. This will also be the final time these 2 clubs get together during the 2023 regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Allegiance Field. If you cannot make it to the field, listen in on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.