Clutch Swings In The 7th Leads PaddleHeads to Win Saturday

MISSOULA, MT- After 6-innings of play on Saturday, the Missoula PaddleHeads offense would still be searching for answers. Missoula had only tallied 1 run to that point in what was looking to be a slow night for the offense for the 2nd straight evening. Billings would also take the lead in the top of the 7th. This meant that Missoula's attack would have to find some semblance of success down the stretch to fight back into it. Thanks to a pair of big swings in the 7th inning, the PaddleHeads would do that, and then some. 

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th, Trevor Candalaria would start the frame off with an infield single. 2 batters later, McClain O'Connor would stride to the plate with a man on. The 3rd year PaddleHead would strike with a huge swing in the situation hitting a line shot over the left field wall to give the PaddleHeads their first lead at 3-2. After a triple from Ryan Cash, Jake Guenther would bring him in one batter later on a 2-run bomb of his own to give Missoula a 3-run advantage. The PaddleHeads pen would hold the line the rest of the way allowing Missoula to even things up in the 6-game set in a 6-2 win. 

O'Connor tied Keaton Greenwalt for the team lead in homers (14) with his swing in the 7th. O'Connor would reach base 4 times in the win, finishing 1-for-2 with a pair driven in Saturday. Guenther knocked in 3 runs in the win, going  2-for-3. Cash also chipped in finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI. 

Before action in the 7th, the only runs of the contest would be scored in the 3rd for both clubs. Connor Denning would give Billings a brief lead in the 3rd hitting an RBI single to left field making the score 1-0. Guenther would immediately answer with a base hit of his own however in the bottom of the frame making the score 1-1. Connor Schultz did his part to ensure the PaddleHeads would stay right in the thick of it. 

The 2nd year pro would only allow 1 earned run over 6 innings of work on 5 hits while striking out 3 batters. Schultz has been solid in his last 5 starts overall holding a 3.14 ERA over that span in 28 ⅔ innings pitched. Furthermore Shultz is also in 3rd place overall in the league in ERA (3.80). The bullpen would do well after his departure to slam the door shut down the stretch. 

The combination of Cody Thompson, and Zach Penrod would not allow a run over the final 2 frames while striking out a pair, allowing only 1 baserunner down the stretch. Thompson. Thompson has been on a roll in recent weeks having not allowed a run over his last 7 ⅔ innings pitched.

The win for the PaddleHeads (48-17) evened things up in the 6-game set opposite the Mustangs (27-38). Missoula will now look to grasp momentum in a matinee affair on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Allegiance Field is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Catch all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.