Riley Leads Missoula Past Billings In 9th in 5-4 Win
PaddleHeads Even Series With Clutch Offense Wednesday
Billings, MT- Action would remain tight throughout in game 2 of a 6 game set featuring the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Billings Mustangs. Both clubs would find an advantage at one point or another over the course of the game. However, neither team would lead by more than 2 runs at any point. Entering the top of the ninth inning, action would be deadlocked at 4 runs apiece. Missoula would have their work cut out for them facing off against the tough southpaw Beaux Bovillian in the situation. Despite having the deck stacked against them, Missoula would find success when they needed it the most.
The PaddleHeads would get off on the right foot in the ninth thanks to Keaton Greenwalt who would lace a double down the left field line to kick off the inning immediately putting pressure on Billings. One batter later, Brandon Riley would line a single up the middle to score Greenwalt from second in the clutch situation to give Missoula a 5-4 lead. Sam Hellinger would then do the rest in the home half of the frame to give the PaddleHeads the victory to even the series. Greenwalt was a key offensively in the win finishing 3-for-4 while Riley was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
After the Mustangs would hold the early advantage in the first 2 innings, Missoula would snag the lead for the first time in the 3rd thanks to a 3-run rally. Singles from Nick Gatewood, and Kamron Willman brought in a pair of runs in the frame. McClain O'Conner would also find success in the inning with an RBI double that scored Greenwalt. Willman, and Gatewood both finished 1-for-4 while O'Conner finished 2-for-5.
The Mustangs ensured things would stay tight in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs to knot things up at 3. A double from catcher Bryan Parreira would start things off to cut into the PaddleHeads lead. Jacob Kline would later bring home Parreira in the frame with a sacrifice fly to tie things up. Despite keeping things close through the evening, Billings would never hold a lead after the 3rd inning.
Jayson Newman countered the 2-run push from the Mustangs in the top of the 5th with an RBI double that would bring home Lamar Sparks to put Missoula back on top by a score of 4-3. It would be the highlight of another solid night at the dish for Newman who finished 2-for-3 Wednesday night. The Southern California native has been on a tear over his last 5 games finishing with a .523 average in that span. Newman has recorded at least 2 hits in each of those games to go along with 5 RBIs.
Domingo Pena pitched well out of the PaddleHeads pen in 2 frames allowing only 1 base runner over the 2 innings of work in the fifth, and sixth. Cody Thompson would ensure action remained tied later in the 8th as well for Missoula in a scoreless frame giving the PaddleHeads offense the chance to break through in the ninth. Hellinger would then slam the door shut in the ninth earning his 12th save of the season in a clean inning.
The PaddleHeads (57-22) will now look for an advantage in this 6-game set against the Mustangs (43-35) after evening things up Wednesday. Action continues at Dehler Park on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
