NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Land in First Place Following 6-1 Victory

July 1, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


GREAT FALLS, MONT. - Left-hander Cameron Smith tossed the final four shutout innings on Tuesday night as the Missoula Osprey (8-5) recorded a 6-1 road victory over Great Falls (7-4) to move into first place in the Pioneer League North standings. The victory was also Missoula's third straight, managing that feat for the first time this year.

Smith did not allow a hit or walk over the four innings, striking out one to move to 2-0 with the win. Missoula's pitching staff was impressive in the victory over the Voyagers, with Scott Schultz throwing the first four innings, allowing four hits and an unearned run while striking out two, before Will Lowman threw one inning of scoreless relief.

Continuing a stellar start to his professional career, Austin Byler went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. The two doubles pushed Byler's total to five on the year, as he continues to lead the Pioneer League in on-base percentage.

The Osprey, who are now 6-1 when scoring first in a game this year, got on the board in the third inning as Matt McPhearson singled and stole second base before coming in to score on an RBI-groundout from Joey Armstrong.

The lead moved to 2-0 in the fifth inning when Kal Simmons contributed a two-out RBI-single into centerfield to push home Raymel Flores. Flores, who made a handful of dazzling plays at shortstop, had reached with a one-out single earlier in the inning.

After Great Falls plated its lone run of the game in the fifth on a passed ball, Missoula tacked on two more runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Byler's second double of the game started the sixth inning before Luke Lowery singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Chris Freudenberg replaced starter Evin Einhardt following the single, and the left-hander hit the next two batters on consecutive pitches, forcing in the first run of the inning before a wild pitch capped the scoring run. Einhardt took the loss and fell to 0-1 after being charged with four runs on seven hits over his 5.0+ innings of work.

Francis Christy and Tyler Humphreys each notched an RBI-double in the eighth, as Christy drove home Byler and the first run of the frame before plating on the two-bagger from Humphreys. Byler had previously singled to record his fourth multi-hit game of the year.

Missoula will continue the two-game series with Great Falls tomorrow at 7 pm MT. RHP Yefrey Ramirez (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will toe the rubber for Missoula opposite RHP Matt Ball (0-0, 2.25 ERA) for Great Falls.

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Pioneer League message board...

Pioneer League Stories from July 1, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central