Voyagers Fall Short With 8-2 Loss

(Great Falls, MT)- The Great Falls Voyagers (27-19) and Missoula PaddleHeads (32-12) came into the fifth game of the six game series Friday night all tied up at two games apiece. With both teams hoping to have a shot at winning the series, this game was going to be a showdown. 

The game started well for the Paddleheads as they scored one in the first and three in the third against starting pitcher, Tyler Naumann. After the third inning, Naumann he shut out the PaddleHeads through the sixth inning. 

The Voyagers, on the other hand, were unable to touch Missoula's starting pitcher for more than two hits until the fifth inning. Adam Oviedo started things out with a double to left and moved to third on a wild pitch. Breydon Daniel drew a base on balls and was moved to third on a single by Jake Malec that drove in Oviedo. Michael Deeb hit a fly ball deep to center that scored Daniel and the score was 4-2. 

The score remained 4-2 until the top of the ninth inning. The PaddleHeads were able to crack the Voyagers' pitching in the ninth, however, and scored four runs on two hits, two walks, and a hit batsman off relief pitcher Brad Demco.

The bottom of the ninth didn't work out for a comeback for the Voyagers as they were shut down in order, giving the Paddleheads the victory at 8-2. 

The Voyagers will get a chance to even out the series on Sunday afternoon. Centene Stadium gates open at 3 p.m. and first pitch will be at 4 p.m.