Voyagers Walk-Off Paddleheads

Clutch Hitting Provides Win For Voyagers!

(Great Falls, Mt. ) The Great Falls Voyagers faced off Tuesday night versus the Missoula Paddleheads in what some might consider a must-win for the Voyagers as they came into the game at 4-6. The Paddleheads, meanwhile came into the game at 8-4 and having won 8 of their last 10. The Voyagers coming into the game had dropped 4 of 6 versus the Northern Colorado Owlz, and while the hitting was showing to be strong, the pitching was struggling.
That all changed for the Voyagers as starting pitcher Tyler Naumann pitched 6 innings of 5 hit 1 run ball. The Voyager's hitting went to work right away in the first inning as Jake Malec hit a one-out single to right field, which was followed by a single from Ryan McCarthy to center. Collin Runge stepped up with another single to right, scoring Malec. With two out in the inning, Derek Kolbush singled to center scoring McCarthy. Christopher "Chino" DeGuzman provided another single to score Runge, giving the Voyagers a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Voyagers picked up another run in the 4th as DeGuzman started the inning off with a double to left. He was brought home on a two-out single from Riley Jepson to give the Voyagers a 4-0 lead after 4 innings.
The Paddleheads got one in the 5th and led 4-1 going to the 7th. Then the wheels came off as the Voyagers committed 3 errors and 5 hits in the 7th to trail 6-4. The Voyager bats were able to get going again in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie it up at 6. Kolbush started off with a base on balls, followed by a single to center by DeGuzman. With two out and a 2 balls and 2 strike count and fouling off 4 pitches, Nick Emanuel came through with a line drive single to right center, scoring two to tie the game at 6.
Montana Quigley came in to try and shut the door on the Paddleheads in the 9th and struck out the first batter he saw, then gave up a double and a single, allowing one run to score. Quigley then struck out the last two batters for a Paddlehead 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. A fly ball out started the 9th, but McCarthy hit a line drive shot down the right field line for a double. Runge also had a double down the right-field line that scored McCarthy on a close play at the plate. With two out in the inning and Runge at second base, Kolbush hit a single down the right-field line to score Runge on a very close play at the plate, giving the Voyagers an 8-7 win!
The Voyagers will look to make it two in a row as they face off in game two of the three-game series on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.