Late Inning Push Leads Missoula to Win

MISSOULA, MT - After a pair of slugfests to open the series, game 3 between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Great Falls Voyagers would be a turn in the other direction. Great Falls would only tally runs offensively in one inning on this night and would also be limited to only 6 hits as a team. On the flipside, Missoula would trail for a large portion of the night leading up to the 6th inning. The PaddleHeads would finally erase the deficit in the bottom of the 6th knotting up the score at 4 runs apiece. Behind 2 more production innings offensively, the PaddleHeads would find just enough offense to back up solid work from the bullpen. 

Missoula would score runs in innings 6 through 8 to grab the lead over the Voyagers. Great Falls would not find any success on the flipside opposite Jestin Jones, and Andrew Garcia in the Missoula bullpen. The duo would allow only 1 baserunner over the final 3 innings. The end result would be a 7-4 victory Thursday as the PaddleHeads won their third game in as many nights in action with the Voyagers. 

Missoula would be the first team to lead in the early going, scoring 2 in the first 2 innings. Roberto Pena would come home on an error in the 1st inning after hitting a triple. Jaylen Lee would get credit for an RBI in the next half inning on a sacrifice fly that scored Cameron Thompson to make the score 2-0. Pena would be productive down the stretch run for the Missoula attack after falling behind in the 3rd inning. 

The Voyagers offense would strike for the one, and only time in the top of the 3rd inning in a 4-run rally. Hylan Hall would do the first damage of the inning on a single up the middle to cut the lead to 1. A bit of luck would then benefit the Voyagers allowing them to take the lead for the first time. 

Xane Washington would later strike out with 2-outs recorded in the 3rd. However, the ball would roll to the backstop, allowing the centerfielder to reach base. The inning would continue with Mahki Backstrom in the box. The former Braves farmhand would take advantage of the lifeline hitting a 3-run blast to give the Voyagers a 4-2 lead. This would be only production offensively for Great Falls. Missoula would just keep on chipping away in the innings that followed. 

Alec Sanchez would immediately cut back into the Voyagers lead hitting a solo home run into right center that traveled 420 feet to make the score 4-3 in the 3rd inning. The rookie center fielder would also provide a spark offensively in the late innings as well finishing the contest 2-for-4. 

After quiet innings in the 4th, and 5th the PaddleHeads would level things up at 4 in the 6th inning. Pena would bring home a run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to bring Missoula level. Former Voyager Collin Runge would give the PaddleHeads the lead back in the inning that followed on a sac fly of his own as Missoula led 5-4. More insurance would be added on in the inning that followed. But that would prove to be more than enough for the Missoula pen. 

Jones would kick things off with 2 fabulous innings in the 7th, and 8th allowing only 1 hit in 2 scoreless innings. The Florida native would strike out 4 in those frames allowing Missoula to stay in front. Garcia would deliver in the 9th after receiving support in the 8th from the offense. 

RBI singles from Sanchez, and Pena would give Missoula more breathing room ahead of the 9th making the score 7-4. The duo would both finish 2-for-4 in the win for Missoula. Pena has been outstanding in this series especially for the PaddleHeads to this point finishing 9-for-13 in his at-bats in the series. Garcia would make sure there would be no drama in the 9th inning that followed. 

The California native would retire the side in order in the inning opposite the Voyagers to earn his 4th save of the season in as many opportunities. The Antelope Valley product would do so featuring a heavy fastball in the mid 90s to earn the save. Garcia has allowed only 1 run in 8 appearances to this point while striking out 11 batters in 8 innings of work. 

The PaddleHeads (12-3) will look to keep rolling in game 4 opposite the Voyagers (3-12) after winning the first 3 games of the series. First pitch on Friday night at Allegiance Field is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. If you cannot make it to the ballpark for Star Wars night, listen to the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.