Ballers bats erupt in Wednesday night win over Paddleheads
Oakland scores season-high 17 runs to even series
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 20 | 1 |
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1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 2 |
By Gareth Kwok
MISSOULA, MT – Behind a season-high 20 hits, the Oakland Ballers scored a season-high 17 runs in a 17-12 victory over the Missoula Paddleheads at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park to tie the series a game apiece.
Oakland (8-12) immediately pounced on Missoula (12-8) starting right-hander Thomas Reisinger (L, 1-2) in the first inning. The first seven Ballers batters singled and scored to put Oakland in front 7-0.
The Ballers' lead grew to eight in the second, their largest lead of the night, courtesy of an RBI single from Noah Blythe and a double play grounder that scored Jaden Collura from third.
Reisinger pitched into the second but failed to record an out. It's his shortest start of the season as he lasted only one inning before giving up nine runs (six earned) on eight hits and three walks.
After Missoula scored four runs in the bottom of the second and third, Collura responded with a two-run homer, his second of the season, to extend Oakland's lead to 11-5. He was one of three Ballers hitters to collect at least three hits on the night.
The Paddleheads fought back in the bottom of the fourth and fifth on a pair of home runs from Nich Klemp off Ballers starting left-hander CJ Blowers. Klemp's solo shot in the fourth and his grand slam in the fifth trimmed the Oakland lead down to one as part of a seven-RBI night for the Paddleheads catcher.
Blowers pitched into the fifth but finished the day going 4.1 innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
After loading the bases with two walks and a hit batter, Campbell Spradling struck out Mike Koszewski looking to retain Oakland's 11-10 lead after five innings.
The Ballers used their home run power to pour on more runs in the sixth and seventh. Blythe hit a three-run homer in the sixth as part of a four-hit, five RBI game from the outfielder. Jake Allgeyer and Jeter Ybarra hit solo shots in the seventh before Davis Drewek singled in a run to put up a season-high 17 runs for the Ballers.
Valek Cisneros (W, 2-0) threw three innings of relief and allowed just one earned run to pick up the win and Braydon Nelson pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for Oakland.
The Ballers continue their six-game series on Thursday night against the Missoula Paddleheads. Left-hander Joel Tornero will get the start for Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 5:20 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
