Merkel Leads PaddleHeads to Sweep of Hawks

Boise, ID - The Missoula PaddleHeads would look to finish off a sweep on Monday evening over the Boise Hawks in the series finale at Memorial Stadium. Nick Merkel took the hill in the situation having been outstanding in his first 4 outings as a professional. The Spokane native would keep it rolling in the outing to hold up his end of the bargen. Merkel would get the support he needed and then some thanks to the longball. 

The PaddleHeads would hit 3 homers over the course of the game to jump out to a 5 run lead after six. The Hawks would tighten things up in eighth to make things interesting down the stretch. But in the end, it was the PaddleHeads hanging on for a 7-4 victory to wrap up a sweep of Hawks on the road. 

Missoula would set the tone in the top of the third thanks to the Pioneer League leader in home runs Jayson Newman. The Southern California native would launch a ball over 420 feet to left field in the frame to give Missoula a 2-0 lead. Newman has now hit 15 home runs on the season. This jolt would be enough to keep Missoula out in front while Merkel was on the hill. 

Merkel would keep the Boise bats in check over six solid innings by mainly pitching to contact. The right-hander would scatter 5 hits over those frames allowing only just 1 run to earn the win on the mound. Merkel is now tied for the Pioneer League lead in wins (5). 

The PaddleHeads offense would get some separation in the sixth thanks to some help from the longball. After a run scored on an error, Jared Akins would give the PaddleHeads a 5-1 lead on a two run shot. McClain O'Conner would then follow suit with a solo home run of his own to make the score 6-1. The five run cushion would prove to be enough down the stretch, but Boise would make things tight in the eighth. Akins, and O'Conner would both finish 1-for-5.

After scoring just one run through 7, the Hawks would cut the Missoula lead to just 2 runs thanks to a 3-run homerun from Jacob Cruce to make the score 6-4. That would be the closest Boise would come however thanks to the work of Sam Hellinger over the final 1 ⅔. 

The Seattle native would slam the door shut in those frames allowing just 1 hit while striking out 4 to earn his second save of the season. In 2 outings in the series Hellinger would not allow a run while striking  out 6 over 3 ⅓ innings. 

Missoula (24-9) will now continue their 6 game road slate making their second trip  to the Flathead Valley on Tuesday to take on the Range Riders (13-21) to open a 3 game series at Flathead Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.