PaddleHeads Move Into First in the North in Win Over Chukars

Idaho Falls, ID - The Missoula PaddleHeads would be held in check offensively over the first three innings of play Thursday in the series finale opposite the Idaho Falls Chukars. After seeing the offense set the tone in the first two games, game 3 would see the Chukars grab their first lead of the series in the early going looking to avoid the sweep. The PaddleHeads offense may have gotten off to a slow start out of the gate, but they would not be held down for long. 

After falling behind by two runs in the fourth, the PaddleHeads offense would get on a roll over the next 3 innings outscoring the Chukars 7-0 in that stretch to grab control of the game. For the third night in a row the PaddleHeads would tally over 10 hits, and 10 runs as a team after the dust settled. Missoula would also walk away from the diamond winners for the fourth day in a row in a 10-6 win over Idaho Falls. With the victory, Missoula now sits atop the Northern Division standings. 

Missoula would be held scoreless over the first three innings but would tie the game at 1 in the fourth thanks to Jayson Newman. The Southern California native would launch a solo homer over the wall in right to knot up the score. Newman  currently leads the Pioneer League in home runs (10) and finished the night 1-for-5. 

After the jolt from Newman, the PaddleHeads would take their first lead of the night in the fifth with a 3 run rally.  Singles from Brandon Riley, and Kamron Willman would bring home a pair in the inning prior to a sacrifice fly by Nick Gatewood which made the score 4-3. Willman would finish the night 2-fo-5 while Gatewood was 0-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. 

Riley was a key cog in the offense over the 3 game series hitting at the top of the order finishing with at least 2 hits in each of the 3 games played. The North Carolina product was 7-for-16 overall in the 3 game set with 5 RBIs. 

Missoula would strike again in the seventh with another 3 run rally which would extend their lead to 8-3. A pair of sacrifice flies from Lamar Sparks, and Gatewood got things kicked off before Sparks would eventually score on a wild pitch in the frame. Sparks would finish the night 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. 

After Cameron Thompson added to the lead in the eighth with a double, Henderson Perez would wind out the scoring for Missoula in the next half inning with a single through the middle to score Sparks from second to make the score 10-5. Perez finished the night 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. 

Southpaw Austin Crowson also continued the trend of solid starting pitching in the series in 5 innings of work. The former Phillies farmhand allowed 3 runs over 5 innings of work while striking out 5 to earn his second win of the season. Missoula's starting pitchers would earn a win in each of the 3 games played in the series. 

Missoula (17-9) moved into the top position in the Pioneer League North standings in the first half with the win over Idaho Falls (16-10).  The PaddleHeads will not have long to celebrate however as they will open a 3 game set Friday night opposite the Great Falls Voyagers (17-10) who sit just ½ game behind Missoula in the standings. First pitch from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Hear all the action on 102.9 F.M. ESPN Missoula.