Smith Drives In 6 In 14-4 Win Over Raptors Saturday
Missoula Controls Contest In All Aspects In Win Over Ogden
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 2 |
OGDEN, UT - Sizable rallies have told a large part of the story for the Missoula PaddleHeads in this series opposite the Ogden Raptors. Missoula would be held off the board for the 1st 2 innings Saturday however in the early going at Lindquist Field. This allowed the Raptors to take a lead into the 3rd inning for the 1st time in this six game slate. It may have taken a few innings to get going, but Missoula would find there footing in the next 3 frames that followed.
The PaddleHeads would tally 8 runs in innings 3 through 5 taking an 8-1 lead in the process. Missoula would never lead by fewer than 5 runs after this stretch. The PaddleHeads would also get above 10 runs for the 4th time in the series in a 14-4 win over Ogden. The Pitching staff would also do more of its fair share as starter Elijah Gill, and reliever Jestin Jones would keep the Raptors in check. A pair of home runs from a PaddleHeads rookie would also play a big role.
Catcher Taylor Smith would jumpstart the PaddleHeads offense in the 3rd inning after a pair of quiet frames with a home run into right center. It was an impressive at-bat for the Texas native who battled in a 3-2 count to get a pitch he could handle to knot things up at 1 in the frame. A swing from the University of Texas-San Antonio product would give Missoula control in the inning that followed.
Smith would jump all over the first pitch he saw with the bases loaded in the top of the 4th hitting a laser beam over the left field wall for a grand slam. The ball would whistle to the right of the foul line with an exit velocity of 110 miles per hour as the PaddleHeads extended its advantage to 7-1. Smith would finish the contest with 6 RBIs as part of a 2-for-5 effort at the plate. More home run pop from Missoula's most feared hitter would come late in the contest.
Adam Fogel's run of success continued Saturday punctuated with his 2nd home run in as many games in the 8th inning. His solo blast to left in the 8th would give the PaddleHeads a 13-3 advantage. Fogel has tallied 12 hits in the series with Ogden which includes 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 10 RBIs. The native of Southern California would score 4 runs on this night as well as part of a 2-for-3 performance.
Gill would bounce back from his first outing of the season in Idaho Falls in his first start as a PaddleHead Saturday to back up the effort from the offense. The 2022 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year would make it through 6 innings while not allowing an earned run to cross the plate. The southpaw would strike out 4 in the outing to earn his 1st win of the season on the mound. PaddleHeads starting pitchers are 4-0 so far this week in 5 starts opposite the Raptors.
Jestin Jones would do a fabulous job out of the pen down the stretch taking Missoula home over the final 3 innings of work. The 2nd year PaddleHead would strike out 5 batters over those frames to keep Missoula firmly in control. Missoula's bullpen has allowed only 1 run in the 7th inning or later over their last 3 games.
The PaddleHeads (9-2) have now finally made it to their final game of this 12 game road trip and it will come Sunday afternoon opposite the Raptors (1-10). Missoula will be in search of a 6-game sweep of Ogden before rolling back to 'Zoo Town.' First pitch from Lindquist Field is set for 2:00 p.m. Catch the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.
