PaddleHeads Cruise Past Mustangs to Complete Sweep

Missoula, MT - The Missoula PaddleHeads would leave little to doubt in the series finale opposite the Billings Mustangs on Friday night at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. The PaddleHeads had won each of their previous 5 games against Billings and would be in search of their second sweep in a row over the Mustangs. Behind an outstanding effort offensively, that is precisely what would take place. 

Missoula would waste no time setting the tone as the PaddleHeads quickly took a sizable lead in the first inning thanks to a 5-run rally. RBI Singles from Lamar Sparks, Nick Gatewood, and Anders Green would do the bulk of the damage. After the dust settled Missoula would have a 5-0 advantage. Billings would not find a rebuttal offensively for much of the night on the other side as Missoula would cruise the rest of the way to a 13-2 win. 

After the first two batters of the fourth reached, second baseman McClain O'Conner would add to the PaddleHeads advantage with a towering 3-run blast to left field to make the score 8-1. It marked the second time in the series that O'Conner had come through with the long ball. O'Conner would finish the game 1-for-3 with 4 RBIs. 

The only bright spots for Billings offensively would come in the form of a pair of solo home runs from Jalen Garcia, and Jordan Barth. Garcia would get Billings on the board with a line drive shot in the fourth before Barth went deep in the seventh to wind out the scoring for the Mustangs. Billings would only manage to tally 4 hits in the game however as their offense was held in check for the second consecutive night. 

The PaddleHeads would also tally their final runs in the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Cameron Thompson that scored Jared Akins, and Henderson Perez. Thompson would finish the night 2-for-5. Akins also was a key contributor offensively finishing 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored. 

Starter Austin Crowson made sure the Mustangs would not have an opportunity to fight back offensively in a solid effort on the mound. The Oregon native allowed only 1 run on 2 hits over 5 innings of work to earn his first win of the season. This will give the former Phillies product something to build on after failing to make it into the fifth inning in his first two outings. 

The PaddleHeads (9-6) will now look to take their momentum with them on the road as Missoula will head to Dehler Park for the first time this season to open a three game set Saturday opposite the Mustangs (7-6). First pitch from the Magic City is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.  Listen in to all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.