Voyagers Erase 9th Inning Deficit In 8-7 Defeat Tuesday

Great Falls MT- Two Northern Division foes reacquainted themselves with one another on Tuesday night when the Great Falls Voyagers, and Missoula PaddleHeads opened a 3 game series at Centene Stadium. High leverage situations would oftentimes highlight these matchups as these 2 teams fought for the top spot in the Northern Division during the 1st half pennant race of the 2022 season. In their first matchup of 2023, it would be another contest between these 2 clubs to come down to the wire. 

After leading through the first 6 innings of the contest, the PaddleHeads offense would find its groove in the 7th taking the lead for the first time in the inning. Despite this, Great Falls would not be rattled tying the game back up in the next half inning. When Missoula led once again in the bottom of the 9th, the Voyagers would once again put themselves in a threatening position. This time trying to finish things off. After a clutch double from second baseman Colin Runge tied the game at 7, first baseman Derek Kolbush would step into the box with the winning run in scoring position. The 2nd year Voyager would come through in the clutch spot with a single to right giving Great Falls a walk off victory 8-7. 

The Voyagers would jump out quickly in the early going to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Great Falls would tally 5 singles in the frame to jump out to the lead. Kolbush, and Runge would both knock in runs during the rally to get the Voyagers off and running.  Runge would score a pair of runs to highlight a 3-for-5 night at the plate. Kolbush would also be a solid contributor finishing 2-for-4.

Patrick Chung got Missoula on the board in the 5th with a 2-out RBI single to trim the Voyager deficit to 4-1. It would be yet another fabulous night at the top of the order for the Western Oregon product who finished the night 3-for-4. Chung has now recorded a hit for Missoula in each of his last 10 games played. Furthermore, the 2nd year PaddleHeads has also reached base in each of Missoula's 13 games played. 

Chung was in the middle of Missoula's biggest offensive push as well in the 7th as the PaddleHeads would push 5 runs across to take their first lead of the night. Consecutive singles from Chung,  Keaton Greenwalt, Jake Guenther, and Thomas DeBonville would do the damage as the PaddleHeads jumped out to an 6-4 advantage in the frame.

In a rebuttal, Catcher Nick Emanuel would provide a big swing for the Voyagers in the bottom of the 8th to bring Great Falls level. The 3rd year veteran would hit a soft line drive over the outstretched arms of Chung at 2nd base to bring home a pair to tie the game at 6. Emmanuel finished the night off 1-for-4. 

The PaddleHeads were the first to strike in a dramatic 9th inning taking the lead back in the top of the frame on a single to right field off the bat of DeBonville. The former Idaho Falls Chukar tallied a pair of singles on the night finishing 2-for-5. Despite these late game at-bats going Missoula's way, it would prove to not be enough as the Voyagers would tally 4 runs in the final 2 innings to sneak out a win late. 

The PaddleHeads (8-5) will look to bounce back in game 2 of the series opposite the Voyagers (5-6) on Wednesday evening. First pitch from Centene Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Hear the game live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.