Howell slam lifts Sophy, Riders on Friday
Kaleb Sophy pitched seven strong innings and Gabe Howell hit a grand slam Friday, to lead the Range Riders to a 5-3 win over the Voyagers on their return home to Glacier Bank Park.
After spending the last nine games on the road and playing in a doubleheader the night before, a strong start was needed from Sophy and he delivered.
Sophy allowed two earned runs and struck out nine batters to pick up his fourth win of the season and give the bullpen a much-needed rest. Howell provided the biggest hit of the night; his fifth home run of the season came in just his 11th game with the team, part of a 2-for-4 day.
With a 5-2 lead heading into the ninth inning, Cameron Cowan came in for the save and immediately found himself in trouble. Hylan Hall hit a leadoff home run, his second of the night, and the Voyagers had the go-ahead run in the batter's box before Cowan got Ryan Major to fly out to right field to end the game.
The Range Riders are still holding on to the second seed in the Pioneer League and will face Great Falls two more times at home before heading to Boise to conclude the first half of the season. The Boise Hawks are currently two games behind the Range Riders and have a chance to catch them in the standings.
If the Range Riders can hold on to their place for these final eight games, they will lock themselves into a playoff spot, regardless of how the second half of the season ends.
Friday
G. Falls 000 200 001 -- 3 9 0
Glacier 000 040 10X -- 5 9 0
Nick Marshall (5), Trae Robertson (8) and Hernan Yanez. Kaleb Sophy (7), Jack Lynch (8), Cameron Cowan (9) and Nick Gore.
GREAT FALLS VOYAGERS – Ryan Major 2-5, Xane Washington 1-3, Mahki Backstrom 0-3, Hernan Yanez 1-4, Hylan Hall 2-4, Oscar Serratos Jr. 0-4, Freddy Rojas Jr. 2-4, AJ Fritz 0-4, Kody Putnam 1-4.
GLACIER RANGE RIDERS – Gabe Howell 2-4, Andy Atwood 1-3, Christian Kirtley 2-4, Ben Fitzgerald 0-1, Gavin Tonkel 1-3, Ajay Sczepkowski 0-3, Chad Castillo 0-3, Nick Block 1-4, Nick Gore 1-4, JD McLaughlin 1-2.
2B – Major. HR – Howell (5). RBIs – Hall 3. Kirtley, Howell 4.