Runge Walks It Off For PaddleHeads In 7-6 Victory

MISSOULA, MT-  Action would enter the bottom of the 9th for the first time in this 6 game set Friday night in a contest between the Glacier Range Riders and Missoula PaddleHeads. Glacier would lead for large portions of game 4 holding Missoula's offense in check through 6 innings. The PaddleHeads bullpen would keep Missoula in the contest however as the Range Riders could never stretch out their lead. A 7th inning rally would then allow Missoula to tie things up at 6 runs apiece. The game would then enter the bottom of the 9th knotted up a few frames later. Missoula has found many ways to win a game over the course of the first 33 games this season. For the 4th time in as many nights, the PaddleHeads would find another way against Glacier. 

The bottom of the 9th would start with 3 consecutive hitters reaching base to load the bases. After an out was recorded, Collin Runge would jump into the box. The 3rd year pro would get a fastball he could handle lacing it to left field past a dive from former teammate Andy Atwood to score Roberto Pena. This would send the sold out crowd at Allegiance Field into a frenzy as Runge was mobbed by his teammates. The single would send the PaddleHeads into the win column for the 7th consecutive time winning their first game of the season on a walk-off by a final tally of 7-6. 

After never finding a lead in either of the last 2 games, Glacier would grab the lead in the early going with extra base hits playing a big role. Christian Kirtley would knock in his 12 run of the series in the 1st giving the Range Riders a 1-0 lead with a double. Another double from right fielder Mason Dinesen in the 4th would see the lead go out to 2-1. Home run power would then help Missoula find the lead for the first time in the bottom of the inning.

Josh Elvir would immediately tie the score at 2 in the frame hitting a lead off home run in the 4th that traveled 440 to left center. Later in the frame Patrick Chung would send Missoula into the lead with a clutch 2-out single up the middle to make the score 3-2. Chung would also score a run in the win finishing 2-for-4. Glacier's attack would have another answer however in the 5th inning. 

A 3-run rally sent the Range Riders right back in front in the top of the 5th. After the first 2 batters reached in the inning, A double from Gabe Howell would immediately do damage scoring a run to tie the game. A 2-out single from Chad Castillo would then bring the Range Riders to the lead at 5-3. Castillo would have a solid night in the loss finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored and 2 driven in. 

Leading by 2 in the 7th inning, a pair of singles from Ty Penner, and Atwood would give Glacier seemingly a golden opportunity to expand their lead in a big way with runners at the corners.Thanks to solid work from Jestin Jones, that would not occur. 

After entering the game with runners aboard, Jones would limit the damage inducing a double play, and flyout to consecutive batters. A run would score on the double play ball off the bat of Kirtley, but that would be all that would come in making the score 6-3. The PaddleHeads would take advantage with a rally of their own to deadlock the score. 

A 3-run rally in the bottom of the 7th would knot the score at 6. Mike Rosario would get the party started with a 2-run single to left field to trim the Glacier lead to 1. Adam Fogel would then tie the game on a sharp grounder through the left bringing home Rosario. The PaddleHeads bullpen would then hold up their end allowing the game to stay tied in the next 2 frames. 

After Jones tossed a scoreless 8th inning, the PaddleHeads would turn to Ethan Swanson for the 3rd time in the series in the 9th inning. Swanson would come through with another solid inning of work striking out a pair in a clean inning. This sent the game to the bottom of the 9th tied.  

Swanson has struck out 8 batters in 3 innings pitched opposite Glacier this week allowing no runs. The Former Voyager would then have a front row seat to an eclectic moment from another player with ties to Great Falls as Runge would send everyone home happy in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off single.

Missoula (27-7) now lead a group of 3 teams by 7 games atop the Pioneer League standings. The Range Riders, Boise Hawks, and Northern Colorado Owlz all currently hold overall records of (20-14) to trail the PaddleHeads. 

The series between Glacier, and Missoula will resume on Saturday night in game 5. Fireworks will once again be featured after the ballgame that is scheduled to get underway at 7:05 p.m. If you cannot make it to the ballpark, stay locked in on ESPN Radio Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.