Voyagers Drop Both Ends of Doubleheader

Great Falls, MT-After three consecutive postponements in Missoula, the Voyagers returned home as the visiting club and produced a combined six base hits in losing both games of a doubleheader to the Osprey Monday night at Centene Stadium.

Great Falls (8-10, 23-32) fell to 2-12 in the season series with Missoula. The Osprey (11-8, 31-26) own the best record within the North Division at 25-16. The Voyagers have lost nine in a row to Missoula, with their last win over the Osprey coming back on June 22^nd.
A two-run home run by Nick Grande in the second inning of game one fueled a 4-1 victory for Missoula. It was Grande's first with the Osprey. It came with two outs in the inning after a Kevin Watson double. Great Falls' only run came across in the top of the fourth on a Harvin Mendoza RBI groundout. Luis Curbelo tripled to right-center with one out and later scored. Watson produced an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-1 lead. A two-out solo home run to right-center by Jose Reyes provided the final margin. It was Reyes' second dinger of the season. All four Osprey runs scored with two outs.
Dustin Lacaze posted the win on the mound in game one. Lacaze (3-0) worked five innings and gave up just one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Jason Morgan took the loss despite his fifth quality start of the season. Morgan (2-5) went all six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits (2 HRs) with one strikeout and one walk. Mitchell Stumpo notched his second save with two strikeouts in one inning.
Game two went extra innings and only featured a combined eight base hits. Missoula picked up its second walk-off win of the season in a 1-0, eight-inning victory. It marked the second walk-off loss for Great Falls. The Voyagers best threat came in the top of the seventh after Harvin Mendoza led off with a double deep into the right field corner. Mendoza was erased though after trying to take third on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the eighth, the Osprey scored the winning run from second on a throwing error off a Jose Reyes' grounder to third.
Reliever Jhonny Valdez picked up the win in relief. Valdez (1-0) pitched the final three innings and allowed just one hit with five strikeouts and no walks. Caleb Freeman suffered the loss. Freeman (0-1) gave up an unearned run with one strikeout. Kaleb Roper made his first professional start for Great Falls and faced the minimum over three innings. Roper gave up one hit with two strikeouts and three walks. He picked two base runners off of first.
Great Falls now goes back on the road for a brief, two-game series at Billings. First pitch Tuesday night at Dehler Park is set for 6:35 p.m. The Voyagers next home stand starts Thursday night against Missoula. For season tickets and promotional information, call 406-452-5311 or visit www.gfvoyagers.com.