Long Ball Leads Range Riders To 14-12 Win

MISSOULA, MT-  After seeing pitching play a big role in recent games, action between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Glacier Range Riders would be much different. The PaddleHeads attack would tally runs in each of the first 5 innings offensively in game 5 leading to a double digit run total. Glacier brought their big bats with them as well with extra base hits playing a big role throughout tallying 6 home runs. This would lead to another tight battle coming down the stretch. In the end, the team that made it to the win column would be the one that was able to wiggle out of a couple of strenuous late inning situations.

After seeing the first 2 men reach in the bottom of the 7th, Glacier reliever Montana Quigley was able to settle down, striking out a pair to get out of the inning. Missoula would also see 3 batters reach in the next half inning. However, the Range Riders would avoid another rally by picking 2 men off the bases. Missoula would be held off the board in the final 4 frames as it stood allowing the Range Riders to find the win column in a 14-12 final tally. 

Glacier would get the home run ball working right away in the top of the 1st thanks to Ty Penner. The Alberta native would hit a 3-run blast in the frame giving Glacier a 3-0 advantage on a homer to right. Penner would finish the evening 2-for-5. More power would spark the offense a few innings later. 

Home runs from Christian Kirtley, and Andy Atwood would bring the Range Rider advantage to 7-3. Gabe Howell would also strike with an RBI single with 2 outs as part of the 5-run rally that saw Glacier take their largest lead at 8-3. Kirtley would be heard from again offensively and Atwood would finish 1-for-4. 

Missoula would fight back in the 4th. A 2-run single from Mike Rosario would trim the Glacier lead to 1 to highlight a 3-run rally. Rosario had a huge night in the loss finishing 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs. Missoula's biggest rally of the night in the next frame would also bring them to the lead for the first time. 

A 5-run rally would see Missoula take the lead. A bloop off the bat of Alec Sanchez would find the outfield grass in the frame for a double to knot things up at 11. Sanchez would later score the lead run on an RBI groundout that made the score 12-11. Sanchez lived on base in the loss finishing 5-for-6. The lead would prove to not last long. 

Kirtley would immediately bring Glacier level in the top of the 6th leading off the frame with his 2nd home run of the game. The 2nd year pro has homered 6 times in the series and would finish 2-for-4 Saturday with 3 RBIs. The Range Riders would then regain the lead with a few bounces going their way. 

An error in the field on a ground ball to 2nd base in the 7th inning allowed Glacier to regain the lead at 13-12. Ben Fitzgerald would also knock in an unearned run on a single to left field to extend the lead to 2. Fitzgerald had a solid night in the win finishing 2-for-3. The Range Riders would then find success from one man in the pen to bring the game to an end. 

Jack Lynch would earn the save for Glacier in 1 ⅓ innings down the stretch to slam the door. Lynch would not allow a hit in the outing and would pitch a clean 9th inning to give the Range Riders their first win of the series Saturday.

Both teams will look to end the 6-game slate on a high in the series finale between the Range Riders (21-14), and PaddleHeads (27-8). Action in a matinee affair Sunday is scheduled to get underway at 2:15 p.m. If you cannot be in the ballpark for a 'Kids Free Sunday' catch the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.