PaddleHeads Erase Early Deficit In Road Win

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads opened a 3-game set on the road on Tuesday evening opposite the Great Falls Voyagers. This was Missoula's first visit to the Electric City. The PaddleHeads would face a challenge from the onset trailing by as many as 5 runs in the early going. Missoula would trim that lead over innings 3 through 5 however, getting within striking distance. Behind a rally in the 7th, the PaddleHeads would take their first lead of the game. A gutsy performance down the stretch from a Missoula reliever would also make a lead stand up. 

A 4-run rally in the top of the 7th allowed the PaddleHeads to snag their first lead of the contest bringing their run total to 10. Rookie Catcher Carlos Perez would bring in an important run of insurance in the next inning as part of a night to remember at the plate with an RBI single making the score 12-10. Great Falls would push a run across in their half of the 8th to cut the deficit. Ethan Swanson would then hold down the fort from there in a 5-out save to preserve a 12-11 win over the Voyagers. 

The Voyagers would jump to the lead thanks to success offensively in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Oscar Serantos Jr. would vault Great Falls to the lead hitting a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd to make the score 3-0. A pair of singles from Ryan Holgate, and Jack Lynch would highlight a 4-run rally in the next inning that saw the Voyagers jump ahead 7-2. However, The PaddleHeads would not waste much time on their way back from this deficit. 

Patrick Chung and Mike Rosario would start bringing the PaddleHeads back with a push in the 4th. A single from Chung through the left side would knock home the 1st run of a 2-run rally. Mike Rosario would then double home Chung to make the score 7-4. Rosario would double twice in the win finishing 3-for-5. Chung was no slouch himself finishing 3-for-6. A rookie would then make a major contribution in the next frame. 

Perez would enjoy his best night as a professional Tuesday. The highlight would come in the 5th as the former Miami Hurricane would launch his first professional home run to straight away center to cut the Voyagers lead to just 1. Perez would score 3 runs in the win in a 3-for-4 performance. The PaddleHeads attack would finish off the comeback in the 7th. 

A double from Kamron Willman in the 7th would kick off a 4-run rally in earnest that saw Missoula harness the lead for the 1st time. Willman would later score the tying run on a wild pitch. Rosario would then give Missoula their first time in front with a single to make the score 10-9. Great Falls would manage to tie things scoring an unearned run in the next half frame. One last burst in the 8th would prove to be enough in this back and forth affair. 

Alec Sanchez would lead off the 8th hitting his 3rd home run in as many games to give Missoula the lead right back by 1. Perez would then knock in Collin Runge with a single bringing the lead to 12-10. Runge was a major contributor in his return to Great Falls. The former Voyager would finish 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Another player with ties to the Electric City would then bring Missoula home.

Swanson would earn his 7th save of the season for his efforts in 1 ⅔ innings. The reliever that spent nearly 2 seasons in Great Falls would not allow a run in that stint striking out a pair to preserve the win for Missoula. Jestin Jones was also very good out of the pen in the middle innings allowing Missoula to get back into the game in 2 ⅔ scoreless innings of work. These  contributing factors proved to be enough for Missoula to come out on top.

After a tightly contested opening game of the series, Missoula (46-15) will look to keep momentum on their side in game 2 of this 3 game set against the Voyagers (21-40). Action from Great Falls is scheduled to get rolling with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. Keep in tune with all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.