Pilot Moves Record to 6-0 in 6-5 Win Tuesday

GREAT FALLS, MT- Both offenses would start things out slowly coming out the gates in game 1 of a 3 game set between the Great Falls Voyagers, and Missoula PaddleHeads. Only 1 run would cross the plate over the first 3 innings of play. Newly acquired catcher Luis Navarro had made his impact felt offensively in his first 4 games tallying a pair of doubles and 4 driven in. The Cuba native would be the driving force behind the Missoula attack at Centene Stadium Tuesday. 

Navarro would provide the big swing in a pair of 3 run rallies in the 4th, and 6th innings that saw Missoula jump out in front 6-2. Great Falls would tally runs over the final 3 frames to cut into the deficit and would have a chance to tie the game in the 9th inning. With the lead run on base, Mark Simon would hold the line in a 6-5 win. Fittingly, it would be Navarro who would retire the final out of the contest giving Missoula a game 1 victory on the road. 

Great Falls would take the lead first in the early going thanks to rookie Jaylyn Williams in the 1st. The Alabama State product would bring home a run on a single in the frame to make the score 1-0. Williams would go on to have a very productive night finishing 3-for-4 with a pair driven in. The Voyagers would never lead again however after the end of the 3rd inning after Missoula got going with the long ball. 

Navarro would give the PaddleHeads their first lead in the top of the 4th with a 2-run blast into right center field to make the score 2-1. Austin Bernard would also knock in a run with a sacrifice fly in the frame that brought Missoula's advantage to 2. Both players would be heard from again as part of a rally 2 innings later. 

Keaton Greenwalt would lead off the 6th with a laser shot over the wall in left field. The former Phillies product currently leads the team in home runs (8), and is 1st in the Pioneer League in RBIs (41). Greenwalt would finish the game 2-for-5. 

One batter later Navarro would add to his home run total with a towering blast in the left center that traveled over 450 feet. Bernard would deliver the final blow with an RBI single to make the score 6-2. Navarro would knock in 3 runs total for a 2-for-5 night. Bernard knocked in a pair himself finishing 1-for-2. 

A solo home run from Derek Kolbush would begin Great Falls' climb back into the contest in the 7th to cut Missoula's lead to 3. Williams would knock in a run an inning later with a single, trimming Missoula's lead to just 2 runs. After the 1st 2 outs were recorded in the bottom of the 9th to start the inning, things would get very interesting. 

After an error kept the 9th inning alive with 2-outs, Jake Malec would bring home a run for Great Falls with an RBI single to cut Missoula's advantage to 6-5. With a pair of runners aboard, Mark Simon managed to shut the door in the clutch spot to earn his second save of the season. It also preserved the win for starter Kelvan Pilot. 

The 3rd year Pioneer League veteran would allow only 2 runs over 6 innings pitched to earn yet another win on the mound. The California native would stay out of trouble with the double play ball as 4 double plays would be turned in the field behind him while he was on the mound. As a result, Pilot would move his record to 6-0 on the season. Pilot leads all pitchers in the league in wins. 

The win for the PaddleHeads (24-7) combined with a loss from the Glacier Range Riders Tuesday allowed Missoula's lead to grow to 6 games in the 1st half pennant race in the Northern Division. Missoula has also now won each of their last 6 games played opposite the Voyagers (8-21) this season. The PaddleHeads will look for that success to continue on Wednesday night in game 2 from Centene Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.