Elvir Reaches Base 4 Times in 6-3 Victory Over Hawks

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would come out the gates quickly in the early innings grabbing the lead in game 5 of a 6 game set opposite the Boise Hawks. Missoula would lead by 3 in the first 3 innings holding Boise in check. The Hawks would fight back in the middle innings however, cutting into the deficit in the 4th, and 5th. Thanks to fabulous work from the PaddleHeads bullpen, this would be all Boise would be able to muster offensively. 

The PaddleHeads pen would not allow a single run over the course of the final 4 innings in action against the Hawks. Furthermore, Boise would fail to see a single man reach base over the final 3 innings of play. The PaddleHeads offense would score in consecutive frames from the 2nd through the 5th to back up this effort from Missoula's relievers in a 6-3 win over Boise. The PaddleHeads have now won their last 8 games overall and will look to sweep the 6-game slate opposite the Hawks on Sunday afternoon. 

Luis Navarro would get Missoula out the gates in the second inning hitting an RBI single. In the next frame with 2-outs recorded, Keaton Greenwalt would bring Missoula's advantage to 3-0 with a 2-run bomb to left field. Greenwalt leads the team in home runs (17), and and RBIs (80) and finished 1-for-4 Saturday. Navarro would wrap up his night offensively at 1-for-3. 

Boise would fight back into the game in the 4th with a 2-run rally to cut Missoula's advantage to 1. Derek Maiben brought 2 runs home in the frame with a single through the right side. Another run would cross the plate in the next half inning thanks to an error making the score 4-3. This would be the last time Boise would pose a threat. Missoula would also score in the 4th, and 5th to answer the Hawk offense. 

Ryan Cash knocked in a run with a single up the middle in the 4th inning to bring Missoula's run total to 4. Josh Elvir would get in on the act in the 5th inning, lacing a double to right to score Dondrei Hubbard to make the score 5-3.  Elvir would live on base in this contest finishing 2-for-2 with 2 doubles, a pair of walks, 2 runs scored, and an RBI. Elvir has been on an absolute tear in this series overall finishing 7-for-10 in hits at-bats so far this week with 4 walks. Cash also had a solid night in the win finishing 2-for-4. 

Jestin Jones would once again deliver a solid outing out of the Missoula bullpen in 2 scoreless innings of work from the 4th through the 6th. Jones has had great success against the Hawks this week allowing no runs over 4 ⅔ innings pitched. This would only begin to tell the story for the PaddleHeads pen down the stretch as Missoula would slam the door shut over the final 3 innings. 

Nate Boyle, and Cody Thompson would both pitch clean frames in the 7th, and 8th innings protecting a lead down the stretch. Thompson has been solid in his last 4 outings especially allowing no runs over his last 5 innings pitched. Mark Simon would also continue his recent success pitching in a save situation in the top of the 9th. 

The 3rd year PaddleHead would leave nothing to doubt earning his 10th save in a drama free 9th inning. Simon did not throw a single ball in a 9 pitch inning striking out a pair in the frame to earn the save. Simon has not allowed a run in his last 8 innings pitched overall. 

Missoula (57-20) will look to break out the brooms in the 6-game slate in the series finale on Sunday opposite the Hawks (38-39). Missoula will also look to earn their 9th consecutive victory overall in a matinee affair at Allegiance Field to wrap up the homestand. Action on a 'Kids Free Sunday' is set to get rolling at 2:05. Listen in to hear all the action on 102.9 ESPN Missoula.