7-Run First Inning Leads Missoula to Victory Over Glacier
Alexander Throws 4 Scoreless Down the Stretch in 12-5 Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 1 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 1 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
Kalispell, MT - The Missoula PaddleHeads found a lot of success in the top of the first inning in the series opener against the Glacier Range Riders on Tuesday scoring 3 runs. The PaddleHeads offense would find that success, and then some in game 2 of the series at Flathead field mounting a huge rally to take control of the game early.
Brandon Riley would lace a single up the middle on the first pitch of the ballgame in the top of the first inning. That would begin an offensive onslaught that would not come to a close until the PaddleHeads would put 7 runs on the board to lead 7-0. Of the first 9 batters that came to the plate in the inning, 7 would record hits. Missoula would send 12 batters to the plate in total before it was all set, and done. That barrage would prove to be plenty for Missoula who held the Range Ridgers off the board in every inning after the third in a 12-5 win.
Riley has been a huge part of the PaddleHeads success in the first two games of this series recording 7 hits over the first two games from the top of the order. Riley would finish 3-for-6 Wednesday. McClain O'Conner, and Lamar Sparks would also chip in with 3 hit efforts with Sparks finishing 3-for-6, and O'Conner finishing 3-for-5.
The Range Ridgers would cut an eight run PaddleHeads advantage in half with a 4-run rally in the third inning to make the score 9-5. Doubles from Brody Wofford, and Dean Miller did the bulk of the damage, bringing in three runs in the frame. Glacier would fail to get anything going after that the rest of the way however being held hitless after the inning. Miller, and Wafford both finished 1-for-4.
Domingo Pena earned his fourth win of the season for his work over five innings that saw him strikeout six batters. After Pena's departure, Nathan Alexander would take the ball in relief out of the pen. The Texas native had been effective earlier on the road trip throwing 3 ⅓ scoreless on July 3 in Boise. Alexander would build upon that in this outing.
Alexander would take Missoula all the way home from the sixth inning on in 4 fabulous innings out of the bullpen. The former Marlins farmhand did not allow a single hit over those frames while striking out 4. Alexander has been fabulous in 2 outings on the road trip allowing no runs over 7 ⅓ innings of work.
Cameron Thompson would help give Missoula some more breathing room in the eighth with a single in the frame as Missoula would add on their tenth run of the game. Thompson would finish the night 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, and a run scored. The former Wildcat has recorded 5 hits in 8 plate appearances so far in the series.
The PaddleHeads kept their 5 game lead atop the Northern Division standings over the Idaho Falls Chukars (22-15) with the victory Wednesday . Missoula (27-10) will look to finish their current 6 game road trip with a perfect record in the series finale opposite the Range Riders (13-23) on Thursday night. First pitch from Flathead Field is set for 7:05 p.m. Listen to all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
