4-Run 7th Inning Leads Billings Past Missoula

MISSOULA, MT- A home run in the bottom of the 6th inning for the Missoula PaddleHeads would seemingly give them some momentum opposite the Billings Mustangs. The swing would give Missoula their first lead of the contest to ignite the crowd at Allegiance Field Ogren Park. After 2 outs were recorded in the top of the 7th however, things would take a drastic turn. 

The Mustangs managed to push 4 runs across the plate with 2-outs in the top of the 7th to jump back to an advantage. Missoula would see runners on the bases in the next 2 innings but would not be able to push anything across. Jonathan Haab did the rest in the bottom of the 9th earning his 11th save of the season in a clean 9th inning to preserve a 8-5 win for the Mustangs. 

Despite the loss, Missoula did find a positive in a loss from the Oakland Ballers. The defeat would wrap things up in the race for the best overall record in the league. It also means Missoula will have home field advantage throughout the postseason that begins next week. 

A 2-out RBI trend for the Mustangs would get Billings rolling in the early innings. An RBI single from Casey Harford would bring home the Mustangs first run in the top of the 2nd inning. A few innings later in the 4th, Jacob Kline would give the Mustangs a 3-run lead with a 2-out solo home run to make the score 4-1. This would be the only productive swing in the contest for Kline who finished 1-for-5. The PaddleHeads would find success with 2-outs themselves however following this effort in the next half inning. 

Missoula would tie the game with a 3-run 2-out rally in the bottom of the 4th. Alec Sanchez would get things rolling with a single to bring home a pair. Carlos Perez would then record a single into right center one batter later to knot things up at 4 runs apiece. Perez, and Sanchez would both finish the contest 2-for-4. 

After a quiet 5th inning on both sides of the equation, Colin Gordon would vault the PaddleHeads to the lead on the very first offering of the bottom of the 6th. The Missoula shortstop would hit a line drive shot over the wall in left to give Missoula their first lead at 5-4. Billings would strike in the very next inning however to flip the momentum on its head. 

After seeing the tying run come in during the top of the 7th on an RBI groundout, Evan Blum would lace a single up the middle with 2-outs to put Billings right back in front at 6-5. 2 batters later in a bases loaded situation, a costly error on the infield would lead directly to 2 more runs as the Mustangs would lead 8-5. This gut punch would prove to be the difference in the ballgame Thursday. Blum would finish the contest 2-for-4 with an RBI. 

Jonathan Habb would pitch a clean 9th inning for the 2nd consecutive night to earn his 11th save of the season. Habb has struck out 4 in 2 innings of work to this point in the series. The Mustangs would claim their 3rd straight win on the road as a result opposite the PaddleHeads. Missoula will now look to flip things in the other direction to open the weekend. 

Missoula (60-33) will get things rolling in game 4 opposite the Mustangs (45-28) on Friday night. The PaddleHeads will also host a fireworks display following the ballgame at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Hear the call on 102.9 ESPN Missoula and 1029espn.com.