Jackalopes Provide Fireworks with Five Homers in Rout of Hawks

The ball was flying out of the yard in Grand Junction on Tuesday afternoon, as the Jackalopes smacked five home runs in a 12-6 win over the Boise Hawks. Jacob Cruce got the home run barrage started in the third inning, cranking a solo homer, and Ethan Smith and Matt Golda hit solo homers of their own in the fourth and fifth innings. After Boise rallied to tie the game at five, Tyler Sandoval capped off a six-run seventh inning with a two-run homer, extending the Grand Junction lead to 11-5. Joe Johnson finished off the attack with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth. The Jackalopes have taken the first two games of the series, scoring a combined 28 runs. 

Billings 5, Missoula 2: Tullar and Company Stifle PaddleHeads to Even up Series 

The PaddleHeads jumped on Cam Tullar for two runs in the first inning, but the southpaw settled nicely. He held the division leaders to just those two runs on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings. Meanwhile, Connor Denning hit a solo homer in the first, Jason Ajaiman tied the game with an RBI single in the fourth, and Wyatt Crenshaw and Luke Fennelly singled home runs in a three-run fifth inning. Trevor Jackson struck out three batters in three scoreless innings, and Hunter Schilperoot and Tyler Statler combined to record the last three outs of the game. Statler now leads the PBL with six saves on the season. 

Glacier 2, Ogden 1: Range Riders' Arms Outduel Raptors, Extend Home Winning Streak 

The Range Riders and Raptors engaged in a pitchers' duel on Tuesday night, with just three runs scored in the contest. Glacier struck first with an RBI single by Kingston Liniak in the second inning, but the Raptors answered on a Juan Teixeira RBI knock. Ogden starter Pablo Arevalo worked in and out of trouble in the third and fourth innings, but Jackson Raper's solo homer in the fifth put the Range Riders back in front. On the flip side, Nick Zegna held the Raptors to just one run on six hits with one walk, and Noah Barros and John Natoli tossed scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Roy Robles struck out two in a spotless ninth inning to lock down the victory. The Range Riders have now won their last seven home games and move to within five games of the division-leading PaddleHeads.  

Great Falls 10, Idaho Falls 5: Voyagers' Bats Support Strong Effort from Bullpen 

Early in Tuesday evening's showdown, the Idaho Falls lineup attacked early and often. They rapped out five hits and four runs in the first inning, knocking Great Falls starter Shane Gustafson out of the game after just two-thirds of an inning. However, the Great Falls offense responded by scoring two runs in the first, two more in the second, and took the lead on Anthony Herron Jr.'s RBI double in the third – one of his three hits on the evening. Meanwhile, former PBL Draft pick Montana Quigley allowed just one run and three hits with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings of relief to keep the Chukars in check. The Voyagers scored five runs in the sixth to take a 10-5 lead – all of which scored with two outs in the frame. Ethan Swanson struck out four and allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings, and Andrew Garcia finished off the game with two scoreless innings of his own.  

Northern Colorado 8, Rocky Mountain 7: Owlz Survive Vibes' Late Charge in Shortened Game 

After a lengthy delay due to poor weather, the Vibes and Owlz played a seven-inning contest that featured plenty of offense. The Vibes jumped out to an early lead thanks to a sacrifice fly by Dusty Stroup and a solo homer from Jacob Barfield. The Owlz' bats woke up in the fourth inning though, as Henry George's solo homer kickstarted a six-run inning. Abdel Guadalupe hit an RBI triple, Jackson Coutts hit an RBI double, Peyton Robertson doubled home two more, and Kevin Jimenez capped the rally with an RBI single. Northern Colorado padded its lead in the fifth inning on Tim Bouchard's two-run single. The Vibes didn't go down without a fight, as Stroup drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth to draw them a little closer. The Vibes scored four times in the sixth inning, capped off by Brandon Crosby's two-run homer – his first long ball of the season – making it a one-run game. Owlz closer Cory Wills buckled down though, recording the final four outs to give Northern Colorado an 8-7 victory.