Range Riders Hold Off Late Inning Push In 9-8 Defeat

MISSOULA, MT- More late inning dramatics would highlight action in Game 2 of a 3 game set between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Glacier Range Riders Saturday night. Both squads would land body blows coming down the stretch of the final 3 innings. In the end, a sequence in the bottom of the 9th would decide the victor. 

With Missoula trailing by 1, Thomas DeBonville would reach base to give the PaddleHeads life. Later in the frame, Debonville would steal second base, and take 3rd after a wild throw into the outfield. This gave Missoula a chance to bring the tying run home in the bottom of the ninth with only 1 out recorded. Reliever Justin Coleman would not go down without a fight however striking out the next batter bringing Patrick Chung to the plate with 2-outs. Chung would lace a line drive down the left field line in the clutch spot. However rookie left fielder Nicky Lucky would make a fabulous running catch while making contact with the wall to preserve a 9-8 win for Glacier. 

The PaddleHeads would draw first blood in the first for the second consecutive night thanks to 3 consecutive singles. After base hits from Keaton Greenwalt, and Luis Navarro, Cameron Thompson would jump start his offensive night with an RBI single that made the score 1-0. This would be the beginning of a big night for Thompson that would go on to reach base 4 times finishing 3-for-4. Glacier would grab the lead themselves for the first time a few innings later thanks to the long ball. 

Back-to-back home runs from shortstop Gabe Howell, and thirdbaseman Jackson Raper would give Glacier there first lead of the night at 2-1 in the third. Howell would knock in a pair in the win finishing 2-for-5. Raper would finish the night 1-for-4. One inning later, the PaddleHeads offense would strike back in this sea-saw battle. 

The PaddleHeads would record 4 extra base hits as part of a 4-run rally in the 4th inning that saw Missoula push its lead to 5-2. Both DeBonville, and Jared Akins would bring home runs in the frame on triples in consecutive at-bats. Chung would also bring home a run with a double that would give Missoula a 3-run advantage. The game would take a big turn in favor of Glacier however as the game entered the final 3 innings. DeBonville wrapped up his night finishing 3-for-5 and Akins was 1-for-4. Chung would also contribute, finishing 2-for-5.

Second Baseman Mason Dinesen would kick off a 4-run rally in the top of the 7th with a double to start the inning for the Range Riders. This would start a string of 6 consecutive batters reaching base in the frame. A pair of errors in this stretch, and a controversial call on a play at the plate would also be a factor in this sequence. When the dust settled Glacer would hold a one run advantage at 6-5. One inning later, they would receive a clutch swing that would prove to be the difference in the game. 

After a pair of walks started the top of the 8th inning, right fielder Crews Taylor would jump on the first pitch that came his way in his at bat. The former Mustang would clobber a 3-run bomb down the left field line to give Glacier a 9-5 lead. Taylor would reach base 3 times on the night finishing 2-for-4 with 3 driven in. Despite landing this momentum shifting blow, this would prove to not intimidate the PaddleHeads.

Both Chung, and Akins would reach base in the bottom of the 8th hitting in front of shortstop McClain O'Connor. The 3rd year PaddleHead would take advantage of the situation hitting a 3-run home run of his own to bring the PaddleHeads to within a run entering the stretch run of the contest. Missoula would see the tying run stranded in the ninth inning however as Missoula would fall just shy in the end. This allowed Glacier to win its first game in Missoula in the history of the franchise. 

The Range Riders (20-13) trimmed the deficit in the Pioneer League North to 5 games Saturday with the win over the PaddleHeads (26-9). Both teams will now look for a series victory on Sunday afternoon in the series finale from Allegiance Field. This matinee affair is scheduled to begin at 2:05 p.m. Catch all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.