Sports stats



Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Tripped by Owlz, 5-4

August 19, 2011 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT - Tom Belza smacked a three-run home run, while Fidel Pena collected three hits, but it was not enough as the Orem Owlz snapped the Missoula Osprey four-game win streak with a 5-4 triumph on Thursday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field in front of 2,108 fans.

Orem (11-7, 33-23), who took sole possession of first place in the Pioneer League South Division Second-Half standings with the win, took leads of 2-0 and 4-1 before the Osprey (11-7, 36-20) would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. The loss sends Missoula into a first-place tie in the North Division with Great Falls, who no-hit Casper on Thursday.

In the home half of the fifth, Belza, who had two hits on the night, hit a shot to right-center with two on and two out off of Orem starter Joe Melioris (4-2), who pitched six innings to get the win on the mound.

Pena tripled to lead off the bottom of the second inning and scored on a Stephen Cardullo RBI groundout to get the Osprey on the board, 2-1. Pena added singles in the sixth and ninth innings, and added a stolen base, his 11th of the season.

The tandem combined for five of the eight Missoula hits. Roidany Aguila added a double, while Eric Groff and Jon Griffin both singled. Griffin extended his current hit streak to 12 games with the ninth-inning safety.

Seth Simmons and Matt Sample combined for three innings of one-hit, five-strikeout relief behind Osprey starter Raymond Hernandez (7-1), who surrendered all five runs (four earned) in six innings of work.

The Osprey will open a three-game series with the Ogden Raptors on Friday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. The Osprey will send right-hander Robby Rowland to the mound, and he will be opposed by Raptors right-hander Gustavo Gomez.

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.

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads Statistics

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

Pioneer League Stories from August 19, 2011


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