Chung Leads Offensive Effort In 13-10 Win Over Great Falls

MISSOULA, MT- After securing a win in the late innings Tuesday, the Missoula PaddleHeads would hold the lead in the early going in game 2 on the road opposite the Great Falls Voyagers. After a rally in the 2nd inning, Missoula would hold the lead through the middle innings. Great Falls would land a body blow in the 6th however, taking the lead with a rally of their own. Thanks to contributions from their leadoff hitter, this push to the lead would prove to be short lived. 

Patrick Chung would lead the PaddleHeads charge throughout reaching base 6 times in the contest. Chung would also contribute with the long ball launching his 2nd home run of the night in the 8th inning. The PaddleHeads attack would score 9 runs collectively over their final 3 innings offensively to get themselves in front by a sizable margin. The Voyagers would tally 3 runs in the 9th to make things a bit closer down the stretch but would not climb out of the big hole as Missoula came away with a 13-10 win. 

Chung's night would be off to a good start from the very beginning. After leading off the ballgame off with a single, Chung would see a unique sequence play out in the second inning. In a bases loaded situation, Chung would lace a line drive up the middle for another base hit. However, the ball would then be misplayed in the outfield resulting in the ball rolling to the wall in centerfield. This allowed Chung to come all the way around to score on the play. When the dust settled, the score would stand at 4-1. Chung would keep it rolling 2 innings later. 

The 3rd year PaddleHead would find a rudimentary way around the bases in the 4th hitting his 1st home run of the night to give Missoula a 3-run advantage. When it was all said and done, Chung would finish 5-for-5 with 4 driven in and 3 runs scored. Chung has also tallied 8 hits in 2 games to this point in Great Falls. The Voyagers would rebut this effort to get back to the lead in the 6th. 

Left fielder Ryan Major would provide the biggest punch in a 3-run rally for Great Falls in the 6th with an RBI triple. The rookie was a big contributor to the efforts of the Voyagers throughout finishing 4-for-6 with 4 RBIs. An RBI single in the frame from Freddy Rojas would then bring home Major to give Great Falls a one run lead at 7-6. The PaddleHeads would then ensure this lead would evaporate quickly. 

Missoula would use a little small ball to get back to the lead in the 7th inning with runners on at the corners. After a pickoff attempt went to first base, Alec Sanchez would race to the plate to successfully steal home to give Missoula an 8-7 lead. Sanchez would also knock in a pair and score 3 runs as part of a 2-for-4 performance. Success with the long ball would then stretch the lead to an insurmountable advantage. 

After Chung's home run in the 8th, Missoula would find more power to get separation in the top of the 9th. Back-to-back home runs from Carlos Perez, and Colin Gordon would provide the punch as the PaddleHeads extended their lead to 13-7. Great Falls would counter with 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th but would not mount a further threat thanks to Ethan Swanson. 

Swanson would be called upon for the 2nd night in a row after 3 runs had crossed the plate and would successfully put the fire out in the bottom of the 9th. Swanson would only allow 1 base runner in his stint striking out a pair. Typically appearing in starting pitching roles, Dawson Day, and Alfredo Villa would also both contribute in the pen in 2 ½ innings scoreless. Day would earn the win for his efforts in an 1 ⅓. 

Missoula (47-15) will look to break out the brooms in the series finale from Great Falls. The Voyagers (21-41) will look for something to build on Thursday before seeing action between these 2 teams shifting to Missoula for the weekend. First pitch from the electric city is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.