Hubbard Tallies 3 Doubles in 8-5 Win Over Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, MT- After a 20 hit performance the night prior, the Missoula PaddleHeads attack would get off to a quick start Saturday in the series finale opposite the Great Falls Voyagers. Missoula would bring the entire order to the plate during a 1st inning rally that saw Missoula grab the early advantage. Catcher Dondrei Hubbard would be a factor in the inning hitting a double in the frame. That would only be a sign of things to come. 

Hubbard would tally his 2nd straight 4 hit performance when it was all said, and done pacing the Missoula attack from the middle of the order. Starting pitcher Alfredo Villa would also do his part in 5 scoreless innings. Dating back to Friday, the Great Falls offense would be held off the board in 15 consecutive innings. The Voyagers would make the game look closer behind a sizable rally late to cut into the deficit but would not threaten further as the PaddleHeads would win 8-5 to wrap up the 1st half on a high. 

The PaddleHeads would tally 6 first inning hits as part of a 4-run rally to put the PaddleHeads out in front early in the 1st. Singles from first baseman Jake Guenther, and third baseman Cameron Thompson would fan the flames along with the double from Hubbard. Thompson would reach base 4 times in the win finishing 2-for-2 and Guenther was 2-for-5. Hubbard would continue to contribute to the cause throughout with extra base hits. 

Hubbard would double as well in both the 2nd, and 6th innings to knock in runs for the PaddleHeads as part of a fabulous effort at the plate. The double in the 6th allowed Missoula to extend its advantage to 8-0. Hubbard would finish the night 4-for-6 with 3 driven in and a run scored. Hubbard has been on a tear over his last 3 games tallying 10 hits in his last 17 at bats overall. 

Villa contained the Voyager attack over 5 innings allowing no runs on 7 hits while striking out 5. The Arizona native ends the first half as the Pioneer League leader in strikeouts (66). The 2nd year professional is also 2nd in the league in ERA (3.57) trailing only Zach Penrod of Missoula who held a 3.09 ERA in starts during the 1st half. 

After being held off the board for 15 innings offensively, the Voyagers would strike seemingly out of nowhere in the bottom of the 7th. 10 batters would stride to the plate as part of a 5-run rally as the Voyagers would cut the Missoula lead to just 3. Jaylyn Williams provided the biggest spark with a bases clearing double to right field to bring Great Falls to within 4. The Voyagers would only see one man reach over the final 2 innings however as the PaddleHeads pen was able to bring calm to the waters in the final 2 frames. 

After a clean 8th inning from Karl Blum, Mark Simon would earn his 7th save of the first half allowing only 1 base runner in a scoreless bottom of the 9th. The 2021 league pitcher of the year has been in a groove over his last 5 outings having not allowed a run over his last 5 ⅔ innings pitched. 

The PaddleHeads (35-13) will now enjoy some much needed time away after the conclusion of the first half of the regular season. Missoula will have the next 2 days off before the start of the 2nd half of the Pioneer League season which gets underway on Tuesday July 18. Missoula will face a challenge in their return to the Garden City as the Ogden Raptors (31-17) will return for their 2nd stint. Ogden took home their 3rd consecutive 1st half pennant in the Southern Division in action this week. The ballgame begins Tuesday night at 7:05 from Allegiance Field. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.