Sparks Gives Missoula A Win Over Voyagers in a ‘Knockout’

Missoula, MT- Nine innings of regulation proved to not be enough to decide Tuesday's game between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Great Falls Voyagers. Action in the bottom of the ninth inning would conclude with the score tied at 8 runs apiece. In the Pioneer League, extra frames are never a part of the equation. To the delight of the fans at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park, it was time for a 'Knockout' round. 

This marked the second time this season the PaddleHeads saw a game go to a knockout round. In round 1, Jayson Newman went opposite Riley Jepson of the Voyagers. Surprisingly, neither batter managed to hit a ball that cleared the wall which sent action to round  2. Breydon Daniel of the Voyagers would fail to convert in either of the next 2 rounds leaving the door open in round 3 for Lamar Sparks. After recording 2 hits in regulation, Sparks found the success he needed in round 3 hitting a laser to left to give Missoula the 9-8 win in the 3rd round of the knockout. 

It would be a seesaw battle in regulation that saw both offenses have spirits of success in the early frames. Missoula would start off quickly taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. After a pair of runs would score on an error, and fielder's choice, Cameron Thompson would then drive in a pair with an RBI single to give Missoula the early advantage. The PaddleHeads would then extend their lead in the next half inning thanks to the long ball. 

Brandon Riley, and McClain O'Conner would hit home runs in consecutive at-bats in the second inning to extend its lead to 6-0. O'Conner, and Riley would both have solid nights at the dish as Riley would finish 2-for-3, and O'Conner was 2-for-4. Despite the quick start in the first 2 frames, Great Falls would storm back with offensive production of their own to get back into it, and then some. 

Great Falls would cut the PaddleHeads advantage in half in the third inning thanks to 3 consecutive RBI singles from Riley Jepson, Derek Kolbusch, and Chris Monroe to give Great Falls confidence early as part of a 4 run rally. Kolbusch, and Monroe would both finish the action 2-for-5. It was a swing in the next half inning from Jepson however that would give Great Falls the lead for the first time erasing the early deficit. 

Jepson would highlight another 4-run rally in the fourth with a 3-run home run to left field that gave the Voyagers the lead at 8-6. This also punctuated a 2 inning stretch that saw Great Falls outscore Missoula 8-0 after falling into a 6-run hole early. Despite this push, Missoula's bullpen was able to hold the line the rest of the way allowing the PaddleHeads a chance to fight back in the game. Jepson would finish the night 2-for-5. 

Reliever Nate Boyle would have a solid outing out of the bullpen stopping the momentum of the Great Falls offense in 3 innings of work. The rookie would allow no runs on 3 hits over those frames while striking out 4 batters. Mark Simon, and Sam Hellinger would also pitch scoreless innings down the stretch to send the game to the knockout. The offense on the other side would do just enough to erase the deficit in the late innings. 

Trailing by a run in the eighth, Missoula would tie the game thanks to a clutch swing from second baseman Patrick Chung. The Western Oregon product laced a double to right center to bring home Thompson to knot things up at 8 runs apiece. It would be the lone hit of the night for Chung but it came at the most opportune time as Missoula would then manage to keep Great Falls off the board to send the game to the knockout round. Chung would finish 1-for-4. 

The PaddleHeads (43-17) will look to keep the early series momentum rolling in game 2 opposite the Voyagers (34-26) in action from the Garden City on Wednesday night. First pitch from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park is set for 7:15 p.m. Catch every pitch of the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.