Cole Captures Victory with Walk-Off Single

Flathead Valley, MT. – The Glacier Range Riders (35-47, 18-17 second half) needed a clutch hit to beat the Great Falls Voyagers (42-40, 15-20 second half). The score was tied and with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Cole was just the man for the job. The Glacier right fielder cracked a long single to the right center field gap that easily scored Dean Miller to win the game in walk-off fashion for the Range Riders by the score of 6-5.

The game started out on the wrong note for Glacier, who fell behind early after a three-run homer by the Voyagers. However, the hosts quickly struck back, with four runs in the bottom of the third. First, a two-run error by Great Falls, then an RBI fielder's choice, and an RBI groundout. Glacier expanded their lead in the next inning, with a 417-foot bomb from Mason Dinesen to lead off the inning. That was Dinesen's first home run as a Range Rider.

Back came Great Falls, though, as the visitors put across lone runs in the fifth and the seventh to tie the game up at five and set the scene for the dramatic finish. Strikeouts were a huge factor that helped the Range Rider pitching staff all day, with the crew totaling 15: six from starter Andrew Stout, two from debutant John Natoli, three from Isaiah Henry, two from Trenton Toplikar, and two from Nathan Thomas who ended up picking up the win on the day.

In the bottom of the ninth, Dean Miller rifled a 108 MPH single to start the frame. Drew Sims came in to pinch hit and ended up getting plunked by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After a passed ball allowed Miller and pinch runner Mike Biasiello to third and second base, Great Falls intentionally walked Eddie McCabe to load the bases. After a Glacier strikeout, it was Cole who stepped up and after fouling off the first pitch, pelted the next one he saw to deep right center field where it one hopped off the wall to a jubilant ovation from the Flathead Faithful. Miller easily made his way home and the mob was on to swarm Cole for his walk-off hit.

With the win, the Range Riders capture their third series in a row and take a ton of momentum into their six-game stretch in Missoula this week. The Range Riders will be back at home for the final homestand of the regular season, starting on Monday, September 5^th.