Richardson, Nicolarsen lead Missoula sweep of AA Lakers

Andrew Richardson went the distance in the first game of a doubleheader and the Missoula Mavericks defeated the Kalispell AA Lakers 2-1 Sunday in the home opener for Kalispell at Griffin Field.

In game two, Colter Nicolarsen doubled and hit a solo home run as the Mavericks completed the sweep 4-3. 

Richardson allowed seven hits and no earned runs in the victory, fanning eight batters. 

Missoula (2-1) opened the scoring in the second inning as Ethan Paugh came in on a bases-loaded wild pitch to make it 1-0. 

The Mavericks threatened for more in the second, but Gabe Gibbs lined to Tait Orme who tagged third, doubling up Rowan Miculka and ending the inning. 

The score stayed steady until the fifth, when Owen Felton doubled to center field and scored Kaden Thennis from second. 

Kalispell (1-2) found its lone run in the bottom of the sixth as Hunter Fann ran home on a passed ball. Orme represented the tying run on third, but a Miles Arrowsmith pop out ended the Lakers’ threat. 

Richardson’s performance was met with a solid outing from Kalispell’s Eli Coopman, who tossed five innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out seven batters. 

Max Schara threw the final two innings for the Lakers, not allowing a hit. 

Nicolarsen started game two off with a bang as he blasted a first-inning long ball to put Missoula up 1-0. 

Stellan Ridley then added to the advantage in the fourth with an RBI single to right, scoring Nicolarsen. 

Kalispell got one back as Orme singled to center, bringing home Schara and making it 2-1. 

The Mavericks extended their advantage again in the fifth with a Remington Howard double to left and an error later in the frame that sent Howard home. 

Kalispell closed in again with Beau Schulz coming in on a wild pitch, then Arrowsmith scored on a single from Teagan Dixon to make it 4-3, but the Lakers got no closer. 

Dawson Rodoni went 6 2-3 innings for Missoula to get the win, he allowed three runs on six hits and fanned seven. 

Kalispell got six frames from Kyler Croft on the bump, he allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven. 

Kalispell now heads to the Palouse Summer Series in Pullman, Wash. on Thursday. 

Missoula 2, AA Lakers 1

Missoula    010    010    0    -    2    5    1 

AA Lakers    000    010    0    -    1    7    1 

Andrew Richardson and Gabe Gibbs. Eli Coopman, Max Schara (6) and Brady Buckmaster. 

MISSOULA — Gabe Gibbs 0-4, Colter Nicolarsen 1-3, Stellan Ridley 1-4, Kaden Thennis 1-4, Ethan Paugh 0-2, Rowan Miculka 1-3, Owen Felton 1-2, Remington Howard 0-2, Seamus Kane 0-2. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Lincoln Fisher 1-3, Micah Engle 0-1, Hunter Fann 1-4, Tait Orme 0-3, Liam Rech 1-3, Brady Buckmaster 1-3, Miles Arrowsmith 0-3, Beau Schulz 1-3, Dillon Wink 1-2, Teagan Dixon 1-3. 

2B — Felton. Dixon. RBIs — Felton. 

Missoula 4, AA Lakers 3

Missoula    100    102    0    -    4    6    1 

AA Lakers    000    012    0    -    3    6    3 

Dawson Rodoni, Devin Leary (7) and Kieran Cooney. Kyler Croft, George Schwan (7) and Brady Buckmaster. 

MISSOULA — Gibbs 1-4,  Nicolarsen 2-4, Ridley 1-3, Thennis 0-3, Paugh 0-3, Miculka 1-3, Howard 0-3, Richardson 0-3, Cooney 0-2. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Schara 1-3, Fann 0-2, Orme 2-4, Coopman 0-3, Rech 0-1, Buckmaster 1-4, Schulz 1-3, Fisher 0-1, Arrowsmith 0-2, Wink 0-3, Dixon 1-3. 

2B — Howard, Nicolarsen. HR — Nicolarsen. RBIs —Nicolarsen, Ridley, Howard. Dixon, Orme.