PaddleHeads Race Past Hawks Behind 3rd Inning Rally

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads opened a 6-game slate at home on Tuesday night in action opposite a Southern Division foe in the Boise Hawks. This also marked the 1st of 9 contests between these 2 clubs coming down the stretch of the regular season. Neither offense would find much success in the 1st 2 innings as both teams would search for an advantage. Once the Missoula offense clicked it into gear on this night, the Hawks would not manage to bring it to a stop. 

The PaddleHeads would vault into the lead in a flurry behind a big rally 3rd that saw Missoula put 6 runs on the board. The Missoula attack would just keep on coming as the night progressed as well, scoring in 4 consecutive innings from the 5th through the 8th inning. Missoula would tally 18 hits as a team overall with 6 batters in the order finishing with 2 hits or more. Boise would not find enough on the other side to keep pace as Missoula would come away with a 13-7 win to get off to a good start in this 6 game series. 

The PaddleHeads would see 7 batters reach in a row in the 3rd inning bringing 6 runs home in the frame to make the score 6-1. Singles from McClain O'Connor, and Keaton Greenwalt would get the scoring started for Missoula. After a walk to Jake Guenther, Luis Navarro would provide the highlight of the frame, launching a grand slam to left field to put a bow on the rally. 

Greenwalt would drive in 2 in the contest finishing 3-for-3. Navarro drove in a game high 5 runs as part of a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. O'Connor would also have a solid night in the win finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI. 

After a home run from Greenwalt in the 5th, the PaddleHeads would start to pull away behind a rally in the 6th. A double from Austin Bernard would get the party started to make the score 8-2. Dondrei Hubbard would bring him in a few batters later to make the score 9-2. Hubbard would bring his night to a close with a band 2 innings later. Bernard would finish the night 1-for-4. 

Izzy Fuentes would earn the win for his work on the mound over 6 innings. The 3rd year pro would limit the Hawks to 2 runs over those frames while striking out 3. Boise would never trail by less than 5 runs down the stretch as Missoula's offense kept on coming in the late innings. 

A 3-run rally would put the finishing touches on for Missoula in the bottom of the 8th. Hubbard would provide the first spark with a line drive home run to left field. Hubbard would knock in a pair in the win as part of a 3-for-5 effort. Cameron Thompson would also bring in a pair on a triple into right field to make the score 13-5. Thompson concluded the game finishing 2-for-5 as Missoula would cruise to the game 1 win at home. 

The PaddleHeads (53-20) saw their lead in the 2nd Half standings in the Northern Division grow to 5 games over the Billings Mustangs with the win over the Hawks (38-35) on Tuesday night. Action in game 2 of the series in the Garden City is set for 7:05 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. if you cannot make it to the ballpark in person.