PaddleHeads Offense Held in Check in 5-2 Defeat

BILLINGS MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would get off on the right foot early on in game 2 of a 3 game set opposite the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday. Missoula would jump ahead by a pair in the top of the first to grab the early momentum at Dehler Park. Mustang's starter Cam Tullar would settle in after this early sequence however, allowing the Mustangs to stay in the game. A 5th inning rally would later see Billings grab their first lead. As it turned out, it would prove to be the only offensive production the Mustangs would need. 

A 3-run push in the bottom of the 5th would give the Mustangs their first lead of the night by that same margin. Billings would not score anything further beyond this point. On the other side, Missoula would have their chances to break through offensively as batters would reach base for the PaddleHeads in each of the final 4 innings. Missoula would fail to bring home any runs after the 1st inning however, allowing Billings to even the series by a score of 5-2.=

After leading off the game on a single, McClain O'Connor would score on a base hit from catcher Austin Bernard to make the score 1-0. Bernard would later score in the frame as well on a passed ball to give the PaddleHeads an early 2-run cushion.Tullar would settle down after this early sequence however as the Mustangs would keep the game tight. O'Connor would wrap up the night 1-for-4 at the plate and Bernard would finish 1-for-2. 

Tullar would strike out 5 batters in a row in one stretch from the 2nd into the 3rd inning to establish control. The Western Kentucky product would limit the PaddleHeads to just 2 hits after the 1st inning in 5 effective frames. The southpaw would strike out 7 in those innings while walking just one batter. Despite a slow start themselves offensively, Billings would manage to get the spark they needed in the 5th.

The Mustangs would take a lead they would never relinquish in the bottom of the 5th thanks to a 3-run rally. Rookie second baseman Wyatt Crenshaw would drive in 2 in the inning on a single to give Billings their first lead at 4-2. Crenshaw would later score himself in the frame on a single from shortstop Luke Fennelly to make the score 5-2. Fennelly finished the day 2-for-3 and Crenshaw was 1-for-4. Missoula would put men on base the rest of the way in attempts to get back into the contest but would ultimately fall short. 

Trailing by 3 in the top of the 9th, Missoula would see both Dondrei Hubbard, and Jake Guenther reach base to make things interesting. The Mustangs would not allow either man to reach home however as the Mustangs would record 3 strikeouts in the frame to bring the ballgame to a close. Hubbard was one of only 2 batters to finish with 2 hits in the ballgame finishing the night 2-for-3. Thanks in part to 3 timely double plays turned by the Mustangs, Missoula's offense would be kept in check most of the way setting up a rubber match in the series finale Wednesday. 

The PaddleHeads (28-10) will make their final regular season appearances at Dehler Park on Wednesday evening in the series finale opposite the Mustangs (18-20). Action from the Magic City will begin at 6:35 p.m. Catch every pitch on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.