Fitzgerald’s big night spurs Range Riders win

by Daily Inter Lake
| May 27, 2023 12:00 AM

GREAT FALLS — Benjamin Fitzgerald doubled twice, homered and drove in six runs Friday night, keying Glacier’s come-from-behind 17-11 Pioneer League baseball win over Great Falls.

Fitzgerald hit a two-run double to start the Range Riders (2-2) back from a 5-1 deficit in the third inning; before the frame ended Glacier led 8-5. Keenan O’Brien’s two-run single put his team ahead 6-5.

The Voyagers scored three times in the fourth inning to knot the game at 8-all, but Crews Taylor gave Glacier the lead for good with an RBI single in the fifth.

Mason Dineson hit a 2-run homer in the sixth to put the Range Riders up 11-8, and Jackson Raper’s 2-run double pushed the lead to 13-8 in the sixth.

Fitzgerald hit a 3-run homer in the seventh inning and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Glacier had 18 hits, with Dean Miller and O’Brien rapping out three each. Miller and Fitzgerald, who doubled and scored in the second inning, each had three runs. Miller and Raper each hit doubles.

Justin Coleman got the win in relief of starter Rob Hamby, who lasted 3 1-3 innings. Coleman held the Voyagers in check through the sixth, striking out two in 2 2-3 innings.

The teams battle through the holiday weekend. The Range Riders have their home opener Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., at Glacier Bank Park.

Glacier 017 012 510 - 17 18 3

Great Falls 320 300 201 - 11 14 3

Rob Hamby, Justin Columen (4), Nathan Thomas (7), Joseph Kinsky (8), Ryan Cloude (9) and Keenan O’Brien. Andrew Garcia, Breonn Pooler (3), Josh Gainer (4), Payton Harris (7), Jaylyn Williams (8) and Beau Dorman.

GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — Gabe Howell 1-6, Crews Taylor 2-5, Dean Miller 3-5, Jackson Raper 2-4, Kingston Liniak 1-4, Benjamin Fitzgerald 3-5, Mason Dineseon 2-5, O’Brien 3-6, Ben McConnell 1-5.

GREAT FALLS VOYAGERS — Jake Malec 4-6, Riley Jepson 1-5, Collin Runge 0-3, Cal Bocchino 1-1, Ryan McCarthy 1-3, Christopher De Guzman 2-5, Beau Dorman 1-6, Matthew Richardson 1-4, Charlie Hesse 0-5.

2B — Fitzgerald 2, Miller, Raper, O’Brien, Malec. 3B — Bocchino. HR — Fitzgerald, Dinesen. RBIs — Fitzgerald 6, Dineson 3, O’Brien 3, Taylor 2, Raper 2, Miller, Williams 3, McCarthy 2, Malec, Jepson, De Guzman, Dorman.