PaddleHeads Score 16 Runs to Force Game Three, Winner heads to Championship

MISSOULA, Mont. – In a wild, high-scoring affair, the Missoula PaddleHeads used a nine-run sixth inning to surge past the Idaho Falls Chukars, 16-9, on Saturday night at Ogren Park, forcing a decisive game three of the Pioneer Baseball League Playoffs presented by RedPocket.

Idaho Falls struck first, plating two runs in the opening frame on a Ben Rosengard two-run double. Trevor Rogers extended the lead with a two-run homer in the third, and the Chukars added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth to build what seemed like a commanding 8-6 lead. Rogers finished with three RBI on the night, while Rosengard and Jacob Jablonski each doubled and drove in runs.

Missoula's offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth, when Mike Rosario launched a two-run homer and Adam Fogel followed with a two-run shot of his own to pull the PaddleHeads within one. One inning later, the PaddleHeads broke the game open. Alec Sanchez tied the game with a single, Carlos Perez followed with another RBI knock, and Rosario delivered again with an RBI single to give Missoula its first lead of the night. Colin Gordon's two-run single and Sanchez's two-run double capped the rally, putting the PaddleHeads firmly in control.

Missoula finished with 17 hits as Rosario led the way with three hits and four RBI, while Fogel and Sanchez each scored three times. On the mound, Andrew Armstrong provided three steady innings of relief to earn the win, and Zac Lampton struck out two in a scoreless ninth to close it out.

The Chukars added a solo homer from Johnny Pappas in the seventh but were held to just two hits over the final three innings. Idaho Falls used eight pitchers in the loss, with Nathan Hemmerling starting and allowing six runs over five innings.

With the win, Missoula evens the best-of-three series at 1-1. Game Three of the Pioneer Baseball League Playoffs presented by RedPocket is set for Sunday afternoon at Ogren Park, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and can be watched on FloBaseball.tv.