3 Homers Power Missoula Past Glacier Sunday

Kalispell, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads made their final regular season appearance at Flathead Field in the series finale of a 6 game set opposite the Glacier Range Riders Sunday. The PaddleHeads faced challenges through the early portions of the series losing 3 of the first 4 games played. After a victory Saturday however, Missoula had a chance to salvage a split of the 6 game set with another win Sunday. The PaddleHeads would do just that behind a solid performance in many aspects. 

Missoula's offense would be fueled by the long ball on a warm Sunday afternoon in the Flathead Valley as the PaddleHeads would tally 3 home runs on the afternoon. This effort would prove to be more than enough as the Missoula pitching staff would limit Glacier to just 5 hits on the afternoon in a 6-3 victory over the Range Riders. 

The PaddleHeads would strike with the home run ball for the first time in the second inning when Keaton Greenwalt would launch a solo shot that would bounce off the scoreboard in left center field to give Missoula the early advantage. Missoula would also add to their lead in the next half inning. 

Consecutive doubles from Nick Cici, and Jared Akins would get the PaddleHeads going in the third with Akins bringing home Cici as part of a 3 run rally. Later with 2-outs recorded, Nick Gatewood would come through with a 2-run single to give Missoula a 4-0 advantage in the early frames. Gatewood, and Cici would both finish 1-for-4. 

The Range Riders would find their only offensive success in the third, and fourth innings. Ben McConell would get Glacier on the board in the third with a double to start the scoring. Livingston Morris would then hit an impressive 2-run homer that traveled 440 feet down the left field line to cut Missoula's lead to 4-3. This would be the final time the Range Riders would threaten as Austen Seidel, and the rest of the Missoula staff would be firmly in control on the hill. 

Seidel would move his record on the season to 4-1 for his efforts over 6 ⅓ innings Sunday. The Texas native would allow 3 runs on 5 hits over those frames to earn his 4th win in 5 outings.  Seidel would also strikeout 6 over his first 3 innings finishing with 7 total on the afternoon. 

Seidel departed with 2 runners aboard in the seventh in a 2 run contest. Tyler Elliot would pitch well to get out of the jam in the frame however, stranding the runners aboard to extinguish Glacier's final offensive threat. The Montana State-Billings product would only allow 1 base runner in an 1 ⅔ striking out 3 in that stretch. 

Akins would give the PaddleHeads some more breathing room in the top of the ninth hitting a line drive shot to left to wind out the scoring at 6-3. It would be a solid day at the dish for the former Twins product who would finish 2-for-4  with a pair of RBIs. The 3-run cushion would prove to be more than enough for Sam Hellinger on the mound. 

The Seattle native would earn his second save in as many days in a scoreless inning. Hellinger is now tied for the Pioneer League Lead in saves (8). The former Rangers product has been on a roll in the late innings so far during the second half converting in save situations in each of his 5 appearances on the hill. 

The PaddleHeads (42-17) will now have an off day Monday to relax after a week on the road. Missoula returns to action on Tuesday evening opening up a 3-game series at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park opposite the Great Falls Voyagers (33-24). First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.=