O’Connor Tallies 4 Hits in 8-5 Victory Over Hawks

Boise, ID- Action would remain tight for a large portion of the night in game 5 between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Boise Hawks. Both teams would spend time in the lead over the course of the game. However, neither team would lead by more than 3 runs at any point in the game. For the second consecutive night however, a late push from the PaddleHeads offense proved to be the difference in the game. 

Missoula would find some separation in the final two innings scoring 3 runs in the final 2 frames. Boise would fail to find a counterpunch offensively in those innings as the PaddleHeads would set down the final 6 batters in order in the last 2 frames to come away with an 8-5 victory. The win for Missoula clinched a series victory over the Hawks in the final series of the regular season.

Success with 2-outs would tell a large part of the story for Missoula as the PaddleHeads would score 3 runs with 2-outs recorded. Lamar Sparks would strike in a 2-out sequence in the 8th with a single with 2 strikes that brought home McClain O'Connor to give Missoula the lead for good at 6-5. Sparks drove in 3 runs in the victory finishing 2-for-4. 

Missoula got some more runs of insurance in the top of the ninth thanks to a pair of hitters in the bottom 3rd of the order. Jared Akins would double home a run to kick things off in the inning. Patrick Chung would then bring home Akins immediately after with a single  to wind out the scoring for the PaddleHeads. Chung finished the night 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and Akins was 1-for-4. 

Boise found the bulk of their offensive success in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs to take an early advantage. Raymond Gil got things started quickly in the inning, launching the first pitch of the frame over the left field wall. Jayce Bailey would later bring home a run on an RBI single through the left side as part of the rally that saw Boise take a 3-0 lead. This early advantage would prove to not last however as Missoula's offense would immediately strike back in the next half inning. Gil finished 2-for-4 in the losing effort while Bailey was 1-for-4. 

Back-to-back doubles from Sparks, and O'Connor jump started the PaddleHeads offense in the 3rd inning that saw Missoula score 4 runs. Chung, and Cameron Thompson would both also do damage in the inning with a pair of RBI singles that would put Missoula out in front by a tally of 4-3. Boise would keep things close in the middle innings, but would never hold the lead at any point over the final 6 innings. O'Conner had a huge night in the victory finishing 4-for-6 with 3 runs scored. 

The bullpen combination of Nathan Alexander, Dan Swain, and Mark Simon would shut things down for Missoula over the final 3 innings as the trio would only allow 1 base runner in that stretch. Swain, and Simon would retire the final 6 batters of the game consecutively in the final 2 innings to bring Missoula to the finish line. Simon was awarded the save for his efforts in the 9th earning his first of the season in the process.

 The PaddleHeads (69-25) will conclude the 2022 regular season on Saturday night in the series finale opposite the Hawks (29-66). Missoula will then turn their attention to the Pioneer League Northern Division Series that is set to begin on Monday evening opposite the Billings Mustangs. Action in the season finale Saturday will begin at 7:00 p.m. Catch all the action from Memorial Stadium on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.