Greenwalt Powers PaddleHeads Past Range Riders

KALISPELL, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads opened a 6-game slate on the road on Tuesday night opposite the Glacier Range Riders. Both teams would be in search of momentum as this marked the first of 12 2nd half matchups between these 2 teams at Glacier Bank Park. Thanks to the long ball, and a solid outing on the mound from the starter, it would be the PaddleHeads landing the first blow.

A home run from Thomas DeBonville would get Missoula out the gate in the 2nd inning to jump into the lead. Glacier would keep things close in the early going but would never find themselves in front at any point. Starter Connor Schultz would pitch well in the outing keeping Glaciers bats in check through a large chunk of the contest. Home run power from Keaton Greenwalt would do the rest down the stretch as the PaddleHeads would pull away in an 8-4 win. 

After Cameron Thompson, and Luis Navarro drew a pair of walks to start the frame, DeBonville would stride to the plate. The 3rd year pro would take advantage of the situation giving Missoula an early 3-0 cushion with a 3-run blast in the top of the 2nd.  DeBonville would finish the night 2-for-4 in the victory. Glacier would keep things close in the early innings however, fighting back quickly. 

Second Baseman Mason Dinesen would get the Range Riders on the board in the 3rd with an RBI single to left field to cut into Missoula's advantage. Third Baseman Jackson Raper would later strike with 2-outs cutting the deficit to 1 with a double to bring home Dinesen that made the score 3-2. The Range Riders would level the score 1 inning later. Dinesen finished the game 2-for-4 and Raper was 1-for-4. 

Catcher Matt Clayton tied the game for the Range Riders  in the top of the 4th with a solo bomb to left field to deadlock the score at 3. Clayton would have a solid night finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Schultz made sure the Range Riders were not able to build any more offensive momentum however not allowing anything further the rest of the way. 

Schultz would earn the win for his efforts on the mound over 7 fabulous innings of work. The Pennsylvania native would strike out 8 batters over those innings, walking only 1. The 2nd year PaddleHead retired 8 batters in a row in one stretch from the end of the 4th through the 6th. Greenwalt would provide insurance down the stretch offensively to back up the outing from Schultz. 

Greenwalt would strike with home runs in the 6th, and 8th innings to help extend the PaddleHead lead. In the 6th, a lead off solo home run would give Missoula a 2-run advantage. Later in the eighth, Greenwalt would launch a 2-run shot to extend the lead to 7-3. The New Mexico native would reach base 4 times in the win finishing 3-for-4 with 3 driven in.

Austin Bernard would also provide more support with an RBI single as part of the 4-run rally in the 8th that saw Missoula extend its lead to 8-3. Glacier would only manage to score once more down the stretch allowing Missoula to come away with the game 1 win. Bernard concluded his night finishing 1-for-3.

The PaddleHeads (40-15) will look to keep the momentum going in game 2 of the series opposite the Range Riders (34-19) on Wednesday at Glacier Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Listen to all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.