PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Get Win Over Billings as Groff Ties Hit Streak

Published on August 4, 2011 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT - Eric Groff waited exactly nine outs and one pitch to extend his current hit streak on Wednesday, hitting a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second inning as the Missoula Osprey beat the Billings Mustangs, 6-2, in front of 2,448 onlookers at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

Groff tied the club record, set by Will Crouch in 2005 of getting a hit in 20 consecutive games, with the home run, and collected his 10th multi-hit game of the streak as well, posting a 2-for-4 night.

Ryan Court added a two-run home run, while Tom Belza and Stephen Cardullo added two hits and a RBI each as the Osprey collected 10 hits in the contest. Ty Linton added a RBI single, snapping a 2-2 tie with his run-scoring safety in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Osprey the lead for good.

Enrique Burgos (4-3) pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on five hits, to pick up the win. Seth Simmons pitched into the eighth, while DJ Johnson nailed down the final five outs for his fourth save in five chances.

Court homered to right field, his fourth roundtripper of the season, with a man on in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-2. Cardullo doubled home Groff in the home half of the eighth, after Johnson induced the second of three double plays the Mustangs (1-3, 21-21) would hit into on the night in the top half of the inning to get out of a jam and preserve the lead.

The Osprey will continue their three-game series with the Mustangs on Thursday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Missoula will send right-hander Conrad Flynn to the mound to take on Billings left-hander Tony Cingrani.

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.

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