Voyagers win big over Glacier Range Riders

Voyagers win big over Glacier Range Riders

(Great Falls, Mt.) The Great Falls Voyagers (20-13) came into Friday night's game versus the Glacier Range Riders (12-20) not only looking to secure at least a tie in the six game series, but hopefully climb a little closer to first in the Northern Division. The Voyagers guaranteed themselves the split with a win and will have to wait to hear about the standings but at the time of this write up, the Idaho Falls Chukars were beating the Missoula Paddleheads in the 8th inning 6-3.

The first inning started off scoreless for both teams but the Voyagers put one on the board in the second to break the scoreless tie. With two out, Christopher De-Guzman had a single to right field. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on a single to center by Nick Emanuel.

The Range Riders were able to put two on the board in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. That only lasted as long as the warm up pitches in between innings though as the Voyagers Jake Malec started the third with a triple to right center. He was brought home on a grounder to the right side of the diamond by Riley Jepson, making a tied score after three.

The Glacier squad scored two in the top of the 5th inning but the Voyagers put a stop to the see-saw scoring battle by plating 4 runs in the 5th. With two out in the inning Malec hit a single to center and moved to second on a wild pitch. Collin Runge hit a single to right center and moved to second on a wild pitch as well. Riley Jepson then had a single to right scoring Runge and Malec. Michael Deeb came up and with one swing of the bat scored two runs as he deposited the ball over the right field fence. Giving the Voyagers a 6-4 lead after five.

Glacier was able to push one across in the sixth inning making it a 6-5 Voyager lead for a brief moment, but the Voyagers made quick work of that in their half of the 6th inning. With one out Emanuel and Myles McKisic drew walks. Breydon Daniel hit a slow rolling infield single to short to load the bases. Malec's single to left scored Emanuel and Runge's single drove home McKisic and Daniel. Malec was able to close out the scoring coming home on a wild pitch. Leading 10-5 after six the Voyagers looked ready to give starting pitcher, Pablo Arevelo his 5th win of the season.

Just to make sure Arevelo would get the win the Voyagers brought home two insurance runs in the 8th inning. Daniel reached first on an error by the first baseman, but was thrown out at second on a fielders choice on a grounder by Malec. Runge drew a base on balls and Jepson cleared the bases with a single to right field making the score 12-5.

Relief pitcher, Connor Spear, who had come in the 7th inning for Arevelo, held the Range Riders scoreless in the last 3 innings securing the 12-5 win for the Voyagers.

The Voyagers and Range Riders square off in game four Saturday night, at Centene Stadium, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and first pitch at 7 p.m.

Written by Ross Drishinski