Groff Extends Streak Again as Osprey Fall to Mustangs
Published on August 3, 2011 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
BILLINGS, MONT - Jon Griffin had three hits, while Eric Groff extended his hit streak to 19 games with a two-hit, two-RBI performance, but it was not enough for the Missoula Osprey on Tuesday at Dehler Park, as the homestanding Billings Mustangs picked up a 7-4 win in front of 3,804 fans.
Nick O'Shea hit a home run and drove in five runs to pace the Mustangs (1-2, 21-20) and split the two-game series with Missoula.
The Osprey (1-2, 26-15) scored first, on a mammoth solo home run by Justin Bianco, off the top of the right-field scoreboard in the top of the third inning, but the Mustangs answered with a three-run home run by O'Shea to give the Mustangs the lead for good, 3-1.
Missoula answered with a run in the top of the sixth, as Groff - who extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a fourth-inning double - hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-2. However, O'Shea delivered a two-run triple down the left-field line in the bottom of the sixth, and the Mustangs added a pair of runs in the seventh to stretch their lead to 7-2.
Groff would single home a run in the top of the eighth, but the Osprey could not get any closer. Groff is a game shy of tying the club record for hits in consecutive games, which was set in 2005 by Will Crouch, who hit in 20 straight games.
The Osprey will head back to Missoula to begin a five-game homestand on Wednesday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, opening up a three-game series with the same Mustangs. Missoula will send right-hander Enrique Burgos to the mound to take on Billings right-hander Wes Mugarian.
Tickets for all remaining games this season are now on sale at the MSO Hub Box Office, located at 140 N. Higgins, by phone at (406) 543-3300 or online at MissoulaOsprey.com.
Pioneer League Stories from August 3, 2011
- Walters Tosses Voyagers Past Brewers - Great Falls Voyagers
- Cron Blasts 3 HR's in Owlz 8-3 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Groff Extends Streak Again as Osprey Fall to Mustangs - Missoula PaddleHeads
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