Guenther Tallies 5 RBIs in 15-5 PaddleHeads Win

Missoula MT- A storyline featuring starting pitching took center stage going into Game 2 of a 3-game set between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Billings Mustangs on Saturday. Rookie right-hander Austin Dill would make his first career start at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park looking to keep it rolling after 3 solid bullpen outings. The rookie would do more than hold his own on the hill in his first start as Dill would work into the 6th inning. The offense would also do more than enough to back up the effort from Dill. 

Missoula would immediately put the Mustangs in a bind in the early going outscoring Billings 9-0 in the first 3 innings. Batters in the top of the order would be especially lethal as each of the top 4 hitters would reach base at least 3 times in the contest. The PaddleHeads would also tally a season hit 23 hits on the night, scoring in all but 2 innings they came to the plate. That combined with a solid effort from Dill would lead to a convincing 15-5 victory for Missoula. The PaddleHeads will now look to finish off a sweep of the Mustangs in the series finale Sunday. 

A 5-run rally from the PaddleHeads would be a key for the second consecutive night coming in the 2nd inning Saturday. Jake Guenter would jumpstart the inning with a 2-run single to make the score 5-0. Singles from Keaton Greenwalt, and McClain O'Conner would also bring runs home in the frame as the PaddleHeads lead ballooned to 8. This would also be just the beginning of a monster night at the plate for Guenther. Greenwalt also had a huge night in his own right finishing 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs. 

The Wisconsin native would also knock in runs with base hits in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th innings to pace the Missoula attack. At the end of it all, Guenther would finish the night 5-for-6 with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored. 

6 batters in the order for Missoula finished with at least 2 hits in the game. Patrick Chung set the tone at the top of the order reaching base 5 times to finish 4-for-5 with 4 runs scored. Kamron Willman would be a pest on the bases as well from the 9th spot in the order as well scoring 4 runs to go along with a 3-for-4 night at the dish. McClain O'Conner would also tally 3 hits finishing 3-for-5. Jared Akins would also record a hit in his 5 consecutive game finishing the night 2-for-5. 

Dill would only allow runs to cross the plate in the 4th inning in a solid outing earning the win in his first professional start. The Missouri native would strike out 8 batters over 5 ⅓ innings while allowing 3 earned runs. Mitch Sparks would also pitch well down the stretch to bring Missoula to the finish line in 3 innings. The 2nd year PaddleHead would only allow 1 baserunner over the final 3 frames allowing Missoula to cruise to a 10 run victory. 

The PaddleHeads (7-4) will look to break out the brooms on Sunday afternoon in the series finale opposite the Mustangs (3-8). Billings will also be looking to avoid a 6th consecutive loss on the road this week in Game 3 in the Garden City Sunday. First pitch from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park is scheduled for 2:05. Catch every moment on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.