Akins Paces PaddleHeads Attack in Win Over Glacier

Missoula MT- The top 2 teams in the Northern Division were locked into a battle for the first time this season on Tuesday night in Game 1 of a 3 game set between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Glacier Range Riders. This week of action will prove to be an important stretch for both teams as both clubs look to gain control of the 1st half race in the Northern Division. Allegiance Field was a house of horrors for Glacier during the 2022 season as the Range Riders would finish the season 0-9 in games played in Missoula. Thanks to early inning offensive success, that trend would continue for Missoula in game 1. 

After a quiet 1st inning, the PaddleHeads offense would come to life over the next 3 frames. The Range Riders would try to fight back with help with the long ball in the early innings. However, the PaddleHead offense proved to be too much, tallying 10 runs over a 3 inning stretch from the 2nd through the 4th. Missoula would then cruise the rest of the way in a 10-5 victory. 

The Range Riders would be the first team on the board in the early going, scoring a pair in the top of the 2nd to grab a 2-0 lead. After Jackson Raper, and Matt Clayton started the inning with a single, and double both players would come in to score. After Ben Fitzgerald brought home a run on an RBI groundout, Mason Dinesan would bring home another with an infield single. Despite seeing this early jolt, the PaddleHeads offense would not let this lead last long.

A sacrifice fly from Kamron Willman leveled the score at 2 in the 3rd after Austin Bernard brought home a run with a bases loaded walk. Patrick Chung would then give Missoula the lead with a single to make the score 3-2. The Range Riders would strike back thanks to the long ball in the next frame. Willman would finish the night with 4 RBIs while Chung would chip in finishing 2-for-4. 

Crews Taylor, and Matt Clayton would both launch solo home runs for the Range Riders in the 3rd allowing Glacier to regain the lead at 4-3. Clayton, and Taylor would both enjoy productive nights at the dish finishing 2-for-4. The Range Riders would never lead at any point after this sequence however as Missoula's bats would prove to be too much. =

Jared Akins kickstarted a fabulous night at the dish in the bottom of the 3rd inning as part of a 3-run rally. Akins would launch his 1st home run of the season over the wall in right to knot the score at 4. A pair of errors would also play a role in the rally allowing the PaddleHeads to extend the lead to 6-4. Akins reached base 4 times in the victory, finishing 3-for-3 on the night. 

RBI singles from Keaton Greenwalt, and Chung in the 4th would see the PaddleHeads advantage grow to 10-4 as Missoula's offense brought home 4 more runs. The PaddleHeads continued its torrid pace in games played at Allegiance Field in the process. Missoula has now scored at least 9 runs in 9 of 10 games played at home this season. =

Mitch Sparks would earn his 1st win out of the bullpen for Missoula keeping the Glacier offense at bay down the stretch. The southpaw would not allow an earned run over 3 innings of work while striking out 3. 

The PaddleHeads (14-5) will look for more success at home in game 2 of the series opposite the Range Riders (11-6) on Wednesday night. First pitch from Allegiance Field is set for 7:05 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.