Range Riders lose lead in 8th, fall to Voyagers in opener

GREAT FALLS — Austin Bates drove in three runs as the Glacier Range Riders pushed into a 5-1 lead over Great Falls in the Pioneer League baseball opener for both teams Tuesday.

It didn’t last: The Voyagers put up three runs in the bottom of the eighth to rally past the Range Riders 6-5.

Bates, the Range Riders’ starting catcher, hit a two-run double in a three-run fourth inning for Glacier; He added an RBI single in the fifth, then eventually scored on a wild pitch to put his team up 5-1.

The Range Riders were nursing a 5-3 lead when Cristopher De Guzman led off the Voyagers’ eighth with a single. With one out Roy Robles came on in relief only to give a wild pitch, a walk and RBI singles to Christian Coipel, Riley Jepson and Ryan McCarthy..

Great Falls reliever Brad Demco then retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.

Jackson Raper doubled, had three hits and scored twice for Glacier. Eddie McCable supplied an RBI single.

Great Falls had drawn to 5-3 on Derek Kolbush’s two-run single in the fifth.

Noah Barros started and lasted 4 2-3 innings for Glacier, allowing seven hits, three walks and three earned runs. He struck out seven..

The two teams battle six more times, including on Memorial Day, before Glacier returns to Kalispell for its home opener at Glacier Bank Park. The Range Riders play the Billings Mustangs at 7:05 p.m. next Tuesday.

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