Sparks Clinches Win For Missoula in ‘Knockout’ Victory
PaddleHeads Erase Late Deficit to Defeat Range Riders
Missoula, MT- Things looked bleak for the Missoula PaddleHeads in the bottom of the 9th on Wednesday in game 3 opposite the Glacier Range Riders. Trailing by a run, Missoula would see the first 2 batters of the inning go down in order. Keaton Greenwalt would then step in the box with the bases empty. Glacier would be seemingly in position to earn their first win of the series as Greenwalt would fall into a 2-strike hole. With his back firmly against the wall, Greenwalt would find a way to make something happen.
On a 1-2 pitch, Greenwalt would get a fastball challenge from reliever Justin Coleman on the inside part of the plate. It would prove to be a pitch that the New Mexico native could handle as Greenwalt would send the ball over the wall in left center field to tie the game at 5 apiece. Action would end in regulation tied at that score sending things to a Knockout Round.
After Livingston Morris of Glacier failed to homer in round 1, Lamar Sparks would have his opportunity to win the game with one swing in the knockout. Sparks would do just that on his first swing in the round, launching a home run to left field to clinch Missoula's 3rd win in as many nights opposite the Range Riders.
Late inning heroics have played a big role in this series so far opposite the Range Riders. Missoula has erased a 9th inning deficit on 2 separate occasions in 3 games. Furthermore, Missoula has tied, or taken the lead in the 7th inning or later in every game so far in the series.
The PaddleHeads would take an early advantage in the early going thanks to a pair of batters in the bottom of the order in the 2nd inning. Jared Akins would strike first with an RBI double into left center field that gave Missoula a 2-run advantage. Patrick Chung would then lace a triple down the first baseline into the bullpen to give Missoula a 3-0 advantage. Missoula's offense would go quiet for the next 4 innings however, leaving the door open for the Range Riders to fight back.
Glacier would score 5 unanswered runs in the 3rd, and 4th innings to jump out in front by a score of 5-3. Brandt Broussard would kick off the 3rd inning rally with a double, continuing his fabulous series at the plate opposite Missoula. The LSU product would then be brought in on a double from Dean Miller to kick off the scoring for Glacier as part of a 2-run inning.
Miller would strike again with a double to score Broussard in the next half inning that saw the Range Riders plate 3 runs. Eddie McCabe would wind out the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly to bring Glacier's advantage to 2. Broussard has recorded at least 2 hits in each of his 3 appearances this week turning in a 4-for-5 performance Wednesday. Miller also tallied 3 hits finishing 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Glacier would be unable to find the scoreboard after this 2-inning stretch however as Missoula's bullpen would settle things down.
Domingo Pena would turn in 2 solid frames of work to start things out for the pen to quiet the waters. The Trio of Cody Thompson, Tyler Elliot, and Nathan Alexander would also contribute with 3 shutout innings giving Missoula the opportunity to fight back in the game late.
Chung would get Missoula on the comeback trail in the bottom of the 7th with a clutch single with 2-outs that would bring home Andrew Noviello. The Western Oregon product had a fabulous night in the victory finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. It would prove to be an important swing for Missoula as Greenwalt would bring the PaddleHeads level with a solo blast in the 9th in the dramatic victory.
Missoula (62-24) will try to make it 4 victories in a row in action opposite the Range Riders (35-50) in game 4 of the series on Thursday night. First pitch from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. If you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in to hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
