Groff sets club hit streak mark as Osprey fall to Mustangs in 10
Published on August 5, 2011 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MONT - As fast as Eric Groff finished off the drama on Wednesday, it was prolonged on Thursday in front of 1,843 fans at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. However, the Missoula Osprey infielder couldn't have picked a better time to etch his name in the record books one more time.
Groff singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, and extended his hitting streak to a club-record 21 straight games, helping the Osprey rally for the second time of the night to tie their game with the Billings Mustangs. However, the Mustangs would pick up a 5-4, 10-inning triumph.
Groff had struck out and grounded out twice before hitting the first pitch thrown by Brooks Pinckard (3-1) into shallow left-center field for a base hit. Groff would eventually score the game-tying run, on a RBI groundout by Roidany Aguila.
The Osprey (2-3, 27-16) scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to rally back from a 3-1 deficit. Ryan Court plated Fidel Pena with a run-scoring groundout, and Tom Belza followed that up with a well-timed steal of third base, scoring on the play as the pitch from Mustang reliever Ryan Kemp got away from Billings catcher Yovan Gonzalez. That tied the game at 3-all.
Billings (2-3, 22-21) bounced back each time, scoring a run in the top of the ninth and the top of the 10th inning off of Missoula reliever Frank Santana (0-4) to pull out the win.
Belza had three hits, including a pair of doubles, while Stephen Cardullo added two hits, including a solo home run, to pace Missoula's nine-hit attack at the plate.
The Osprey will conclude their three-game series with the Mustangs on Friday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Missoula will send right-hander Dexter Price to the mound to take on Billings right-hander Radhames Quezada.
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 5, 2011
- Voyagers earn victory over Brewers - Great Falls Voyagers
- Chukars Comeback Against Owlz, win 8-7 in 10 Innings - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Groff sets club hit streak mark as Osprey fall to Mustangs in 10 - Missoula PaddleHeads
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