Billings Takes Down Missoula in ‘Knockout’ Wednesday

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would bring a 3-run lead with them into the 7th inning in action opposite the Billings Mustangs. These 2 clubs would battle back-and-forth as both teams would lead throughout the course of the game with the largest lead standing at just 3 runs. Furthermore, both teams would score in the same inning on 4 separate occasions. A spirt of offense in the 7th from Billings would prove to pave the way for a tight battle down the stretch. Neither team would be able to find an advantage in regulation after this sequence. 

A 4-run rally would erase Missoula's advantage in a blink of an eye and change the course of the game completely. Missoula would tally 1 run in the bottom half as a rebuttal but would not find the board again over the course of regulation. With the score tied at 7 in regulation, Wednesday's game would enter a 'Knockout' round. After a deadlocked 1st round, Mitch Moralez of the Mustangs would tally 2 homers in round 2 challenging Keaton Greenwalt of the PaddleHeads. Greenwalt would send one home run over the wall in the round, but failed to find the sweet spot again allowing the Mustangs to win the contest in a 2nd Round 'Knockout' win over Missoula.  

The Mustangs would grab the early lead in the top of the 3rd thanks to a clutch swing from Taylor Lomack. The former Padres farm hand would send a base hit up the middle with 2-outs to plate a pair to make it 2-0. Lomack would reach base 3 times finishing 1-for-3 in the ballgame. Missoula's attack would have a very quick answer to this push in the early going. 

The PaddleHeads vaulted to the lead in the bottom of the 3rd behind a 4-run push making the score 4-2. Doubles from Dondrei Hubbard, and Keaton Greenwalt would both plate runs as part of the rally. Newly acquired Josh Elvir would also strike with his first home run in a PaddleHead uniform to bring in a pair to make the score 4-2. Elvir would finish the night 1-for-3. Hubbard, and Greenwalt would both finish the night 2-for-4. 

Missoula would see its lead grow to its largest margin behind one swing in the 5th inning. Austin Bernard would deposit a ball over the left field wall in the frame to knock in a pair to make the score 6-3. Bernard had a solid night reaching base 3 times to finish 2-for-3. This advantage would prove to not be enough however as Billings would push back behind a rally 2 innings later. 

The Mustangs would load the bases behind 2 walks and a base hit to kick off a 4-run rally in the 7th. Connor Denning would bring the first 2-runs home on a single through the right side of the infield. Alejandro Figuredo would also knock in a run with a base hit to knot things up at 6 apiece. The lead run in the frame would score on a wild pitch with Denning crossing home plate to make the score 7-6. A wild sequence in the bottom half of the frame would level things.

A pair of walks would give Missoula a run-scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 7th. With Bernard in the box, a wild pitch would get away with runners at first and second. With the ball bouncing well to the right of home plate, pinch runner Thomas DeBonville would race all the way in from 2nd to score the tying run. The PaddleHeads would never record a hit over the final 3 frames however as action would end in regulation tied at 7. The 'Knockout' would go Billings' way allowing the Mustangs to win their 3rd game of the 6 game set. 

The PaddleHeads (49-19) will look to salvage a slip of the 6-game slate opposite the Mustangs (29-39) in the series finale. Thursday's game will feature a special first pitch time of 3:05 p.m. from the Garden City. This will also be the final time these 2 clubs get together during the regular season. If you cannot make it to the ballpark, listen to all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.