O’Connor Drives in 3 in PaddleHeads Win Over Glacier

MISSOULA, MT- The Glacier Range Riders would draw first blood in the top of the 1st inning Sunday in the rubber match of a 3 game set opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads. Despite seeing the ball not leave the infield, Glacier would manage to scrape a run across opposite starter Kelvan Pilot. The California native came in with a 6-0 record in as many starts. Pilot made sure the early run would not be a sign of things to come. 

Glacier would never find the scoreboard again after the 1st inning as the Range Riders would be limited to just 4 hits over the course of the contest. Pilot would also have success pitching to contact through his 7 innings of work inducing 4 double plays in those innings. McClain O'Connor, and Cameron Thompson would do the bulk of the heavy lifting offensively on the flip side to provide more than enough run support for Pilot in a 7-1 victory. 

The PaddleHeads would take a lead they would never give up in the bottom of the 2nd inning. O'Connor would get Missoula on the board with a sacrifice fly in the inning to tie the game at 1 before taking the lead on a wild pitch. The Nevada native would have plenty more to say offensively as the afternoon wore on. 

Missoula would tack on 2 more in the 5th on 4 consecutive singles. Thompson, would be brought in on an RBI single from catcher Luis Navarro. First baseman Jayson Newman would later score in the frame on a balk to give Missoula a 5-1 advantage. Thompson would reach base 4 times in the win finishing 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Navarro would wrap up his afternoon 2-for-4 and Newman was 2-for-5. Pilot would make sure this production would be more than enough holding Glacier in check. 

The Range Riders  would not tally a single hit against Pilot until the 4th inning in 7 fabulous innings of work. The former Billings Mustang would allow only 3 hits total over those frames while striking out 3 to earn his 7th win of the season on the mound. That win total currently leads the Pioneer League. Pilot is also 3rd amongst all starting pitchers in the league in ERA (3.59). O'Connor would make sure Glacier would have not any comeback opportunities down the stretch thanks to his offensive production. 

The UC Santa Barbara product would bring Missoula's advantage to 6 in the bottom of the 7th on a long triple into the gap in left center field. This was the 2nd triple of the afternoon for the 3rd year PaddleHead as Missoula saw its lead grow to 7-1. O'Connor would conclude his afternoon with 3 RBIs as part of a 2-for-3 performance in the victory Sunday for the PaddleHeads. 

Missoula (27-9) now leads the Pioneer League Northern Division by 6 games over the 2nd place Range Riders (20-14) after the win Sunday. The PaddleHeads will not have long to contemplate things however as they will immediately turn their attention to a road series which begins on Monday night. Next on the docket will be the rival Billings Mustangs (17-18) in the first game of a 3 game series. Action from Dehler Park is set to begin at 6:35 on Monday night. Catch all the action from the Magic City on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.