Missoula Scores 7 in Seventh to Highlight 12-9 Victory Over Great Falls Thursday

Missoula, MT.- The Great Falls Voyagers would quickly draw first blood in the top of the first inning looking to erase the memories of a late inning loss the night before opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads in game 2 of the series Thursday. The Voyagers would get off to a solid start in the first taking a 2-0 lead into the second inning. The PaddleHeads attack would not be held down for long however as Missoula would score in five consecutive innings after the first in a 12-9 victory.

Jared Akins would knot the score up at 2 in the bottom of the second on a two-out single to right. Missoula would take their first lead of the night an inning later as Cameron Thompson would drive a ball over the wall in right for a solo blast to make the score 3-2. Chris Eusay would also get in on the act with a homer of his own in the fourth to put Missoula up by a pair. Things would really begin to get away for the Voyagers in the next half inning.

Missoula would put the game out of reach in the fifth thanks to a 7-run barrage that saw Missoula’s lead swell to 11-2. Providing the knockout blow in the inning would be Jayson Newman who would launch a grand slam over the left field wall to give the PaddleHeads a 9-run advantage. Newman would finish the game 2-for-4 with 5 driven in. The Southern California native has recorded 19 RBIs in just 15 games so far this season.

The offensive onslaught provided plenty of breathing room for starter Palmer Wenzel who would impress once again in his first start in the Garden City. The Texas product allowed only 2 runs over 6 innings to earn his second win in as many starts. The Voyagers would make things interesting however after Wenzel departed.

The Voyagers would have a 7-run rally of their own in the seventh inning to cut the Missoula lead to just 3 entering the stretch run. Ben Norman drove in a pair in the frame on a single prior to a 2-run single from Riley Jepson. Mogollon would bring order to the inning however recording the final out with the bases loaded which would be a sign of more to come.

Mogollon would go the rest of the way for Missoula pitching 2 1/3 allowing no runs on 3 hits while striking out 2 to earn the save on the hill. The Cal Baptist product has been outstanding in his last 10 relief appearances allowing only 1 run over 15 1/3 innings pitched.

The Billings Mustangs (41-48) (23-18) would hold serve for the second consecutive night to remain just one game back in the Northern Division standings in the second half defeating the Idaho Falls Chukars. Missoula (59-30) (24-17) will look to complete the sweep in the series finale opposite the Voyagers on Friday night. Catch all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and SWX Montana.

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