Late Inning Offense Leads PaddleHeads Past Hawks
Willman Drives in 4 In 11-8 Win Victory Over Boise Thursday
Boise, ID- After seeing the Boise Hawks lead for a large bulk of the action on Wednesday, the Missoula PaddleHeads would fall into an early hole on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. Boise would grab the early advantage in the early frames putting 5 runs on the board in the first 2 innings to lead 5-2. Despite seeing the Hawks start things out with momentum early, Missoula would turn things around in the late innings thanks to clutch production from the offense.
The PaddleHeads would tally 6 runs over the final 3 innings of the ballgame to put themselves out in front down the stretch. Boise would have success themselves in the late innings scoring 3 combined in the 7th, and 8th innings to keep things close. A 9th inning really from the PaddleHeads would prove to be the knockout blow however as the PaddleHeads would hang on in the back-and forth affair by a score of 11-8.
With the game tied at 5 in the 7th, Missoula would load the bases to set things up for Kamron Willman. The product of the University of New Mexico would take advantage of the golden opportunity launching a bases-clearing double into right center field to put the PaddleHeads in front by a score of 8-5. It would be another solid night at the plate for Willman who would finish the night 2-for-4 with 4 driven in. Despite this clutch swing, Boise would find an answer over the next 2 frames to tie things up again.
Jordan Rathbone would get Boise back on the board with an RBI single up the middle with 2-outs in the 7th to get the Hawks on the comeback trail. Later in the 8th, first baseman Jason Ajamian would strike with a 2-out double into the left centerfield gap that would score a pair to knot things up at 8 runs apiece. Ajamian finished the night 2-for-3 with 4 driven in. This would be a big blow to absorb in the late innings. Despite this, Missoula's offense proved to have one more rally in them to close things out.
Jayson Newman would kick off a 3-run rally in the top of the 9th hitting a towering double into right center field to start the frame. Cameron Thompson would put Missoula out in front for good one batter later, sending pinch runner Patrick Chung home from second base on a single to make the score 9-8. Keaton Greenwalt would also single home a run as part of the rally that saw Missoula jump in front by a tally of 11-8. Newman would reach base 4 times in the victory finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of walks. Greenwalt, and Thompson were also solid contributors, as Greenwalt finished 2-for-4 and Thompson was 2-for-5.
After the quick start from Boise in the first 2 frames, Domingo Pena would do exceptionally well out of the bullpen to calm the waters in his stint out of the bullpen. The former Royals farmhand would only allow 1 hit over 3 ⅓ shutout innings while striking out 5. Pena would also strike out the final 4 batters he faced on the mound in the outing. This would leave the door open for Missoula's offense to come to life in the late innings in the victory.
Sam Hellinger would also prove to be up to the task in the bottom of the ninth pitching a clean frame to nail down his second save of the series against Boise. Hellinger has now converted in 17 save situations for the PaddleHeads this season which leads the league.
Missoula (68-25) will now look to clinch a series victory in game 5 opposite the Hawks (29-65) on Friday night as the end of the regular season continues to draw closer. Action at Memorial Stadium is set to get underway at 7:00 p.m. Hear the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
