Osprey Drop Home Finale in 10 Innings
Published on September 5, 2013 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MONT. -- The Missoula Osprey dropped their final home game of the 2013 season, 9-6 in 10 innings, against Great Falls on Wednesday night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
The O's led the contest 5 - 0 after four innings but couldn't prevent the Voyagers from clinching the Pioneer League North Division 2nd Half championship and improving their league-best record to 44- 28.
Missoula finished their home schedule at 17-21 after having lost six of its last eight on friendly territory.
The Osprey bunched together three straight two-out singles to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, with Yorman Garcia driving in Justin Bianco. Missoula extended its lead in the 4th on Stryker Trahan's leadoff solo home run (his 10th of the season), Antonio Alvarez's run - scoring fielder's choice and Colin Bray's two -out, two-run homer. Bray bounced a 1-2 pitch from Andrew Mitchell off the top of the yellow plastic safety tubing on the wall in left field for his 4th home run of the season and 5-0 Missoula lead.
Great Falls got on the board in the 5th on Jacob Morris' solo home run. It was the only major mistake made - and run allowed -- by Missoula starting pitcher Justin Van Grouw, who scattered seven hits over six effective innings, with no walks and three strikeouts.
The Voyagers reached O's reliever Jency Solis for five runs in the top of the 7th to move in front. Trey Wimmer's two -run single pulled Great Falls within 5-3. An error on O's shortstop Joe Munoz off the bat of Adam Engel allowed two runs to score tie the game; two batters later, after a pitching change, a wild pitch from Eric Meyerchick let Engel score for a 6-5 Voyagers lead.
Missoula answered in the bottom of the 8th. Justin Bianco led off with a double, Alvarez singled, and Garcia struck again with an RBI single to tie the score at 6-6.
In the 10th, Danny Hayes drew a leadoff walk, and after a sacrifice bunt, Meyerchick walked Jacob Morris. Corey Thompson doubled into the right-center field gap to scored Hayes and Morris, and Wimmer singled to left to drive in Thompson and close out the scoring.
Great Falls won 10 of its 16 meetings against Missoula this season and improved its record against North Division opponents to 29-15 - the best intra-divisional record in the league.
Bianco continued his late-season hot streak by reaching base all five times up. The outfielder was 3-4 with a double, two singles, a walk and two runs scored. Garcia finished 2-4.
The Osprey travel to Billings tomorrow night to start a four-game season-ending series against the Mustangs. Thursday's game starts at 7:05 and will be broadcast on ESPN Montana 97.5 and streamed online at missoulaosprey.com starting at 6:45.
Pioneer League Stories from September 5, 2013
- Raptors Eliminated with Loss - Ogden Raptors
- Rockies Walk-Off with Win - Ogden Raptors
- Chukars Clinch 1st Playoff Berth Since 2007 - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Owlz Lose 12-7, Eliminated from Playoff Contention - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Tuesday Night's Loss Puts Owlz on Brink of Elimination - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Osprey Drop Home Finale in 10 Innings - Missoula PaddleHeads
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