PaddleHeads Even Series in Wire-To-Wire Win

IDAHO FALLS, ID- After trailing throughout in action on Friday night, the Missoula PaddleHeads would find the lead early in game 2 of a 3 game set opposite the Idaho Falls Chukars. Behind a 1st inning rally, the PaddleHeads would jump to the lead immediately. Thanks in part to a solid outing from Connor Schultz, Missoula would remain in front after this sequence. A late inning rally in the 8th would also give the PaddleHeads some much needed insurance to bring their lead to 4. These runs of insurance would prove to be vital down the stretch as Idaho Falls would make a 9th inning push to get back into the game. 

Trailing by 4 in the bottom of the 9th, Idaho Falls would bring in a pair of runs to put Missoula in a stressful situation. After a double from Michael Kohn in the frame, the Chukars would see the tying runs advance into scoring position in the inning trailing by a pair. One batter later, Mark Simon would stand tall on the mound striking out Trevor Halsema on a fastball to bring the ballgame to an end preserving a 7-5 victory for the PaddleHeads. 

Missoula would grab a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with the 1st 3 batters of the game reaching. Josh Elvir would get Missoula rolling with a double into left center that brought home Dondrei Hubbard, and Keaton Greenwalt to put the PaddleHeads in front. Hubbard finished 2-for-4 in the win. Greenwalt, and Elvir would both finish the contest 1-for-4. 

Tyler Wyatt would get the Chukars on the board in the 2nd inning with a solo home run to cut the PaddleHeads advantage in half. Wyatt was a consistent part of the Chukar attack finishing 3-for-4 in the loss. This would be one of the last times Idaho Falls would find success however opposite Schultz who would earn the win on the mound for Missoula. 

Ryan Cash would provide a spark to get the PaddleHeads back to a 2-run lead in the 3rd hitting a sacrifice fly to bring Missoula to a 3-1 advantage. Cash would provide a little bit of everything offensively on this night finishing 1-for-1 with an RBI, 3 walks. 

Schultz would earn his 7th win of the season for his work over 5 2⁄3 innings. The former Hawkee would allow just 2 runs over those frames on 5 hits while striking out 4 batters to earn the win. Schultz currently ranks 2nd amongst pitchers in the league in ERA (3.69). The Missoula offense would give the 2nd year PaddleHead the run support he needed with a rally in the 8th. 

An intentional walk to Elvir would load the bases with one out in the top of the 8th inning with Missoula leading by just 1. Luis Navarro would make the Chukars regret this choice, launching a double down the right field line to give the PaddleHeads a 3-run lead after the free pass. This would prove to be the highlight of a very productive offensive night that saw Navarro finish 3-for-4. 

In the at-bat following Navarro's double, Jake Guenther would bring Missoula's lead to 4 hitting a sacrifice fly scoring Greenwalt to make the score 7-3. The Wisconsin native would also score a run in the win finishing 2-for-3. These runs of insurance in the 8th would prove to be a huge factor for Missoula down the stretch as it allowed the PaddleHeads to hold the line in the 9th. Sunday's series finale will now be a rubber match to the 3-game set on Sunday afternoon. 

The PaddleHeads (62-27) will play in their final contest opposite the Idaho Falls Chukars (31-58) this season on Sunday afternoon in the finale. Action from Melaleuca Field is slated to get rolling at 2:05 p.m. Catch every pitch of this rubber match contest on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.