Bullpen Holds The Line In 8-7 Victory Over Great Falls

MISSOULA, MT- After a sizable rally in the 4th inning, the Missoula PaddleHeads probably felt confident in Friday's battle with the Great Falls Voyagers. Missoula would open a 6-run lead behind the offensive push to lead 8-2. The Voyagers would prove to have a fight in them in the innings that followed however, scoring 5 unanswered runs in the 5th, and 6th innings to get right back into the game. The PaddleHeads offense would also remain quiet the rest of the way after their success in the 4th inning. This would leave no margin for error down the stretch for the PaddleHeads bullpen. A 3 man trio would prove to be up to the task. 

The combination of Trent Anderson, Ethan Swanson, and Andrew Garcia would not budge over the final 3 ⅔ innings of Friday's contest with Missoula clinging to a one run lead. This gutsy work from the pen would pave the way to a game 1 win as Missoula hung on by a tally of 8-7. With the win, Missoula also saw its lead atop the Pioneer League standings grow with other results benefiting the PaddleHeads Friday night. 

The long ball would pave the way offensively for both clubs in the early going as the first 7 runs of the game on both sides would be scored on home runs. For the 2nd consecutive night, a lead off home run would be a factor. Ryan Major would be the one to strike for Great Falls in the top of the 1st giving the Voyagers their only lead of the night. The LSU-Shreveport product was productive throughout finishing 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs. The lead would vanish in the bottom of the inning thanks to Missoula's top power hitter. 

Adam Fogel would leave earth for the 10th time on the season in the bottom of  the first giving Missoula the lead for the first time at 2-1. More home run power would highlight Missoula's biggest rally a few frames later. Fogel would go on to finish 1-for-4. 

All 9 batters came to the plate for Missoula in a 6-run rally in the bottom of the 4th inning as the PaddleHeads would find a large enough advantage to hold off a Great Falls charge. Collin Gordon got things rolling to get Missoula to the lead in the frame hitting a 3-run blast to make the score 5-2. Roberto Pena would also knock in 2 more with a double in the inning and would then score on an RBI single from Alec Sanchez to make the score 8-2. Sanchez, and Gordon tallied 1-for-3 efforts while Pena finished 1-for-4. 

Major would get the Voyagers back on the comeback trail in the 5th inning hitting a 2-run double to cut the lead to 8-4. After an error aided a 3-run rally in the 6th for Great Falls, it set up a tight finish down the stretch in a one run contest. The bullpen would draw a line in the sand, and hold things off. 

Anderson would do well in putting out the fire initially in the PaddleHeads pen bringing a halt to the Great Falls rally in the 6th getting the final 2 outs. Anderson would only allow a pair of baserunners total in 1 ⅔ innings of work. After a clean frame from Swanson in the 8th, Garcia would earn his 5th save in as many opportunities, striking out a pair in the top of the 9th to bring Missoula to the win column once more. 

With the win the PadlleHeads (18-4) saw its lead expand to 3 games in the Pioneer League standing as the Boise Hawk, and Northern Colorado Owlz both are tied in 2nd place at (15-7) overall. The Voyagers (4-18) will now look for a rebuttal in game 2 of the series Saturday night after falling just short on this night. First pitch on 'Little League Night' at the ballpark is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. If you cannot make it to Allegiance Field at Ogren Park, be sure to catch all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M and 1029espn.com.