Clark Outduels Schultz as Range Riders Pick up Win Against PaddleHeads

In their series opener at Glacier Bank Park, Connor Schultz and Jonathan Clark both did their jobs, keeping their opponents at bay. Schultz tossed six innings, allowing three runs and six hits, though that was enough to put Missoula in a hole. Clark delivered his best start of the season, coming just four outs shy of a no-hitter, striking out nine and getting charged with just one earned run. After McClain O'Connor's triple broke up the no-no, Dondrei Hubbard greeted reliever Montana Quigley with an RBI single. Hubbard then stole second and scored on Josh Elvir's RBI knock. In the ninth though, Justin Coleman slammed the door, working out of a two-on, one-out jam. The Range Riders still hold down the final playoff spot. 

Rocky Mountain 5, Ogden 4: Vibes Hold off Raptors' Late Charge 

The Vibes struck first in their series opener against Ogden, getting an RBI single from Ethan Lopez and a bases-loaded walk by Jake McMurray to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Rocky Mountain added two more runs in the fourth on a single by Dusty Stroup and tacked another score on a wild pitch in the sixth. Vibes starter Blaine Traxel cruised through the first six innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh. After Traxel loaded the bases, Rafael Narea ended the righty's night with a two-run single. The Raptors added two more runs in the inning on an RBI double by Cam Phelts and an RBI single by Josh Broughton. The Raptors put two men with one out in the eighth inning, but Chris Macca induced a double play fron Dane Tofteland to escape the frame. The Raptors got the lead-off man on in the top of the ninth, but Carlos Lomeli retired the next three hitters to seal the win. The Vibes currently the second-half South Division standings by 2.5 games. 

Northern Colorado 14, Grand Junction 9: Owlz Go Deep Four Times to Outslug Jackalopes 

The ball was flying out of the yard in Grand Junction on Tuesday night, with six home runs hit between the two teams. Payton Robertson got the home run brigade started with a solo shot in the top of the third inning, the first of four long balls on the night for the Owlz. In the fifth, Abdel Guadalupe cracked a three-run homer, which was the keynote in a six-run rally. Guadalupe finished the night with four RBIs. Tim Bouchard joined the party with a solo shot in the seventh, one of his four hits in the contest. Robertson capped the barrage with a two-run blast for his second homer of the night. The Jacks scored four times in the bottom of the ninth – including home runs by Joe Johnson and Anthony Ray, but it was too little, too late. The Owlz are back in second place in the second-half South standings. 

Great Falls 7, Boise 3: Two Crooked Numbers Enough for Voyagers to Get Past Hawks 

Great Falls scored in just two innings in their series opener against Boise, but they did plenty of damage in those frames. The Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Great Falls immediately responded with four runs, including a Collin Runge homer, an RBI double by Anthony Herron Jr., and two wild pitches. Boise scored twice in the top of the sixth inning, but Great Falls answered again with a two-run triple by Charley Hesse and an RBI groundout from Xane Washington. On the mound, Tyler Naumann allowed just two runs in six innings of work, and Breonn Pooler pitched the final three innings for the save. 

Billings 14, Idaho Falls 5: Mustangs Erase Early Deficit, Arms Cool Off Idaho Falls Bats 

The Chukars came out swinging in the opening frame of Tuesday's opener in Billings, scoring five runs on six hits to chase Billings starter Karan Patel. However, Billings cut into the deficit right away, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by John Michael Faile and Brendan Ryan. Billings took the lead with a five-run second inning, and they never looked back in the contest. Ryan, Faile, and Emmanuel Sanchez all added homers to build a 14-5 lead for the hosts. Meanwhile, Jacob Stobart and McLain Harris stepped up in relief of Patel. Stobart allowed five hits but didn't give up a run and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings of work, while Harris tossed four shutout innings, allowing just two hits with four punchouts. Bryce Donovan finished off the victory with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.