Tight Contest in Great Falls Ends with a Clutch Ninth Inning Comeback
In a back-and-forth match with constant lead changes, the Voyagers overcame a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to walk off a crazy game in Great Falls.
Connor Denning of Billings started the scoring with an RBI groundout, then the Mustangs put on two more in the second with two RBI doubles. The second inning scoring continued with Ryan Peltier, Gregory Ryan Jr, and Xane Washington combining for four runs to take the lead 4-3. Billings struck back with four straight runs to retake the lead, but the chaos began in the bottom of the third. Peltier had juiced bases and rocketed one down the field and flew around the bases for an inside the park grand slam, immediately giving the Voyagers the lead. The leads traded for the next two innings, where the Mustangs took a 12-10 lead with Billy Donovan's solo home run. Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, it was time for the Voyagers to roar back. First, Anthony Herron Jr. hit a sac fly for Riley Jepson to dash home, and Charley Hesse hit a clutch RBI double to equalize the series against the Mustangs.
Range Riders 4, Paddleheads 3: Dean Miller Sends Missoula Home in Knockout Round
Two Pitchers of the Week faced off in a battle between the two best teams in the North Division last night, which necessitated a knockout round to decide a winner. Dawson Day for the Paddleheads and Jack White for the Range Riders each pitched six full innings, combining for 14 strikeouts and 13 hits, each allowing three runs. The Range Riders struck early with Crews Taylor's first inning home run and Christian Kirtley and Mason Dinesen's RBI hits in the fifth. It took five innings of no scoring, but the Paddleheads woke up in the sixth to drill in three runs of their own, both home runs from Jakob Guenther and Luis Navarro. The Range Riders had a chance to walk it off with a man on third in the bottom of the ninth, but Mark Simon finished the inning and forced the Knockout Round. Keaton Greenwalt delivered one for the Paddleheads, but Dean Miller drove two out with one out to spare to send the Range Rider faithful home happy. The Range Riders inch closer to the top spot in the standings, only four games behind Missoula.
Hawks 11, Raptors 4: Boise Cruises to Victory, Inching Closer to Division Top Spot
With last night's 11-4 win over the Ogden Raptors, the Boise Hawks are now only two games behind first place in the South Division. They got the scoring in first and fast, getting eight unanswered runs by the end of the top of the fourth. Trevor Minder led all batters in runs batted in, driving in four with a grand slam in the top of the third. The Hawks would hit four home runs in the contest, including two from Alex Baeza and another from Anthony Walters. The Raptors finally scored with Juan Teixeira's RBI double and Rafael Narea's two-run homer, but the pitching staff walked in a pair in the sixth to increase the lead. Finally, Baeza delivered his second home run in the contest in the top of the eighth to add the cherry on top of a great team-wide performance from the Hawks, giving them a lot of momentum going into the next part of the week.
Owlz 12, Chukars 6: Dominant Start for the Owlz Ends in Victory at Future Legends Field
The Northern Colorado Owlz continue to stay ahead of the battling Vibes and Jackalopes in the South standings, winning their second straight against the Chukars last night 12-6. The Owlz started with five straight runs in the first two innings, with Dave Matthews driving in a run with two RBI singles in both innings. Stephen Cullen homered in the third to stop the streak, and Anthony Frechette got a dinger himself in the fifth to lower the lead, but the Owlz quickly responded with a five-run fifth inning to double their total. Michaels singled home two runs and Payton Robertson cleaned up the rest with a three-run blast, ballooning the lead to eight. Brandon Bohning tried to chip at the lead with a 2RBI triple in the top of the ninth, but it was too little too late for the Chukars. The Owlz stay just behind 500 and the Hawks, while the Chukars continue to fall behind the climbing Voyagers.
Vibes 10, Jackalopes 2: Ottinger's Low-Hit Performance Stumps Grand Junction
A great pitching showing and supporting mid-game surge for the Vibes sealed their fourth straight win and second against the Jackalopes. However, that would be the only run allowed by Rocky Mountain's Zack Ottinger, who threw six innings and only allowed two hits and one unearned run. Grand Junction struck first with Joe Johnson scoring on an error from Austin Elder's attempt to throw out Jaylen Hubbard stealing second, but the Vibes came back in the third with Steve Barmakian and Casey Petersen each batting home a teammate and Elvis Peralta dashing home on a wild pitch. They would follow that up with a four-run fourth, capped with a three-run home run from Dusty Stroup. The Jackalopes wouldn't score again until Ron Washington, Jr. homered in the eighth, long after Ottinger left the mound. The Vibes keep their streak alive and stay ahead of the Jackalopes, inching closer to the Owlz.
