Pioneer League: Range Riders down PaddleHeads Friday
The Glacier Range Riders didn’t stay down for long Friday, with Austin McNicholas’ two-run triple highlighting a four-run first inning in a 9-4 Pioneer League win over Missoula at Flathead Field.
The Paddleheads had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Jayson Newman’s home run, but the Range Riders (9-12) quickly struck back. Dean Miller’s RBI double preceded the McNichols triple; new catcher Jayson Newman singled in McNicholas for a 4-2 lead.
The lead grew to 6-2 in the fourth on RBI singles by Ben McConnell and Sam Linscott; after Billings cut the gap to 6-4, Ryan Cash singled, moved to third on a groundout and a stolen base, then scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.
Brandt Broussard and McConnell drew bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
Cash went 3-for-3 and stole two bases; Glacier worked the paths for seven steals in eight tries, and got four innings of spotless relief.
Logan Vanwey went five innings to get his second win. He allowed five hits and a walk, and struck out five. Justin Coleman struck out two of the three batters he faced in the night.
The teams continued their 3-game set Saturday.
PaddleHeads 200 020 000 - 4 5 0
Range Riders 400 201 20x - 9 13 0
Zachary Smith, Sam Hellinger (5), Dan Swain (8), Nathan Alexander (9) and Brenton Davis. Logan Vanwey, Dawson Day (6), Tyler Solomon (7), Justin Coleman (9) and Justin Mazzone. W — Vanwey (2-0). L — Smith (1-1).
MISSOULA — Kevin Whatley 1-4, Cameron Thompson 0-3, Lamar Sparks 2-4, Jayson Newman 1-3, Nick Gatewood 0-4, Keaton Greenwalt 1-4, Andres Green 0-4, Davis 0-2, Jared Atkins 0-3.
RANGE RIDERS — Ben McConnell 1-3, Sam Linscott 2-5, Brody Wofford 1-4, Dean Miller 2-5, Vinny Bologna 1-5, Austin McNicholas `1-2, Justin Mazzone 2-4, Ryan Cash 3-3, Brand Broussard 0-2.
2B — Whatley, Miller. 3B — McNicholas. HR — Newman. RBis — Whatley 2, Neman 2, McConnell 2, McNicholas 2, Linscott, Miller, Mazzone, Broussard. SAC — Broussard. SB — Sparks, McConnell 2, Linscott 2, Cash 2, Bologna. CS — Bologna.
Late Thursday
Mustangs 8, Range Riders 5
A pinch-hit two-run double by Billings’ Brian Perreira broke a 4-4 tie Thursday as Billings took another win.
Perreira’s big hit came after Glacier had rallied from down 4-1, starting with a solo homer from Miller, his third, in the fifth inning, In the sixth Linscott hit an RBI triple, then scored on Gabe Howell’s single to left to knot the score.
The Mustangs scored four runs in the eighth; after Parreira’s double, Crews Taylor added a two-run single to make it 8-4.
Broussard doubled in a run in Glacier’s half of the eighth, but the hosts got no closer.
Linscott doubled and scored in the first inning on Brody Wofford’s fielder’s choice.
Justin Coleman threw two scoreless innings of relief, and Austin Steinfort pitched a scoreless night for Glacier.
Jordan Hovey hit a solo homer for Billings, his first.