PaddleHeads Tally 26 Combined Runs in a Pair of Wins

Missoula, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads squared off in a twin bill of sorts with the Idaho Falls Chukars on Sunday. After seeing play suspended at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park on Saturday, play of that game would continue on Sunday afternoon. The Originally scheduled game for Sunday would then take place after the conclusion of that game. The thunder, and rain may have brought a stop to the action Saturday night, but it would prove to only prolong the inevitable as Missoula's offense would prove to be a driving force.

After jumping to a 6-0 advantage before play was suspended Saturday night, Missoula would keep things rolling when play continued as the PaddleHeads offense kicked back into gear. Highlighted by a 4-run rally in the eighth, the PaddleHeads would cruise past Idaho Falls in game 1 by a final score of 12-1. Game 2 saw the PaddleHeads immediately set the tone with a big rally in the first inning that saw Missoula grab a sizable advantage. That would prove to tell the story for the rest of the afternoon as the PaddleHeads would cruise to a 14-2 win. 

McClain O'Conner would get things started  for the PaddleHeads offense after the resumption play, getting Missoula on the board in the sixth with a 2-run blast. O'Conner would prove to have a powerful bat all through the week finishing with 3 home runs in action against the Chukars. O'Conner would finish game 1 3-for-5. 

Patrick Chung would kick off a rally in the eighth for Missoula the saw them add to their advantage in game 1 with a triple that scored Jared Akins. After an RBI single from Brandon Riley, Nick Gatewood would bring him home with a 2-run bomb of his own that made the score 12-1. This would only prove to be a sign of things to come for the Missoula offense who would keep on coming in game 2. Chung would finish 2-for-3 in game 1 while Akins was 3-for-4. Gatewood tallied 3 RBIs in a 1-for-4 effort. 

An 8-run rally saw the PaddleHeads jump out to an 8-0 lead right out of the shoot in action in game 2 in the first inning. 4 Home runs from Brandon Riley, Lamar Sparks, Jayson Newman, and Cameron Thompson would tell the story in the inning that saw the PaddleHeads take control. Idaho Falls would never recover after falling into the 8-0 hole early. 

Missoula's offense would keep it going in the third thanks to Sparks, and Gatewood who would both drive in a run on an RBI single. Gatewood would also wind out the scoring for the PaddleHeads in the eighth with a 3-run blast to make the score 14-2. Gatewood finished 4-for-5 in the game 2 win. 

The 3-batter combination of Sparks, Newman, and Gatewood has been a lethal combination throughout the season for Missoula but Sunday would prove to be a special day for the trio. The group combined would finish game 2 11-for-14 with 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and 8 RBIs. Sparks proved to be the highlight of the 3 finishing 4-for-4 on the day. Newman's home run in the third would also bring his total on the season to 30 as part of a 3-for-5 effort. In the process, he became the first player in Pioneer League history to tally 30 home runs in a season in only 70 games played. 

The PaddleHeads pitching staff would hold the Chukars in check through both games as Idaho Falls would be held to just 3 runs over the course of both games. Domingo Pena would earn the win in game 1 in 3 scoreless innings of work in relief of Austin Crowson who also threw 4 scoreless frames before play was suspended. Austen Siedel earned his second win opposite the Chukars this week in 4 innings in game 2 allowing only 2 hits while striking out 6 in the PaddleHeads win. 

Missoula (56-21) will have an off-day Monday to reflect on recent success that has seen the PaddleHeads finish 10-1 in their last 11 games. A 6-game road series will then begin on Tuesday opposite the Billings Mustangs (42-34) at Dehler Park. First pitch from the Magic City is set for 6:35 P.M. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.