Early Offense Leads Raptors Past PaddleHeads in 12-6 Loss

Missoula, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads took on the Ogden Raptors in the third game of a 6 game set on Thursday evening at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. Missoula had the upperhand in the first 2 games of the series in this battle between the top 2 teams from each division. The Raptors never were able to stretch out an advantage when they did take a lead over the first two games of the series. That would change in a big way in the early going Thursday. 

The Raptors attack would jump on the PaddleHeads in the first two innings of action that saw Ogden score 8 runs in that two inning stretch to take an 8-0 advantage. The Raptors would bring 17 batters to the plate in those 2 innings to jump out to the big lead. Missoula would try to fight back with some support from the home run ball, but would fail to climb out of the big hole in a 12-6 loss. 

The Raptors would record 10 of their 15 hits in the first 2 innings alone to jump out to an 8-0 lead early. Brian Dansereau, and Freddy Achecar did a lot of the damage in those two frames. After an RBI double in the first from Dansereau, Achecar would knock him in with a 2-run single of his own as part of a 4-run inning. In the 2nd inning, both would strike with a pair of doubles to add to the Ogden lead. Dansereau would finish the night 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and Achecar was 2-for-4 with 3 driven in.

Despite the lopsided deficit early, Missoula's offense would show fight using the long ball to get things going offensively. Jared Akins would get the PaddleHeads on the board in the third inning with a 2-run shot to make the score 8-2. An inning later Lamar Sparks would also strike with the long ball to cut Ogden's lead to 9-3. Sparks would finish 2-for-5 and Akins was 1-for-3. 

Missoula would keep the action going in the 5th with the home run ball thanks to McClain O'Conner, and Kameron Willman. Willman would launch the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left prior to O'Conner's solo blast to make the score 10-5. That would be the closest Missoula would come down the stretch however failing to make things tight in the loss. Willman would enjoy a fabulous night in the losing effort finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. O'Conner would chip in with a 1-for-5 effort. 

Rookie reliever Nate Boyle also had his best effort out of the pen in the loss for Missoula in 2 ⅓ innings. The Ohio native would strike out a career best 6 batters in those frames while not allowing a single earned run. Montana-State University-Billings product Tyler Elliot also pitched well in his professional debut Thursday allowing just 1 run in 2 ⅔ innings of action. 

The PaddleHeads (37-13) will look to get back in the win column on Friday night in game 4 of the series opposite the Raptors (30-21). Action is set to begin at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park at 7:15 p.m. Catch every pitch of the ballgame on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.