After downing the Great Falls Electrics 23-0 on Friday night, the Mavs returned to the diamond Saturday for the second half of a two-game series against the Electrics at Lindborg-Cregg field.
This time around the Mavs made it a little more interesting as they barely squeezed by Great Falls with a 11-10 come-from-behind Western AA win.
“We battled and stuck in there; we scrapped and did what we had to do.” Hathaway said.
The Great Falls bats were awakened from the previous night's stale performance and kept the pressure on the Mavericks throughout the afternoon. The Mavs found a little breathing room after the fifth inning when they took an 8-4 lead.
But that was short-lived, as the Electrics whittled Missoula's lead down to one run after scoring three in the top of the sixth.
The Electrics finally made their move in the top of the ninth as they tallied another three runs to take a 10-9 lead.
Missoula's fate ultimately rested on the top of the lineup with three outs to go, and they didn't disappoint.
Leadoff batter Dan Belet chipped a liner to shallow center to begin the inning. Mac Cuffe followed up Belet's single with a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner.
With one out and Belet in scoring position, Conor Dwyer came to the plate and belted another shot to center. Dwyer's hit was recorded as a single, but he was able to reach second base off the throw in from the outfield.
With runners on second and third, reserve Taylor Nordby came to the plate for his first at-bat of the game.
Nordby stepped up and drilled a shot to left center. Great Falls center fielder Zach Semenza made a throw to home, but it wasn't close to pinning down the speed of Conor Dwyer, who crossed the plate for the win.
On the mound, Drew Lytle captured the win after relieving Max Smith in the top of the fifth. Lytle struck out four batters and walked three.
“We didn't give him (Smith) any help and it should have been a lot easier than what it was,” Hathaway said.
“Drew came in and did what Drew does, and I thought he did a wonderful job today.”
At the plate, Mac Cuffe had a pair of singles and drove in three runs to lead Missoula. Chris Bartenhagen, Travis Johnsen and Belet also had two singles apiece.
Great Falls was led by Tyler Fayden, who finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
The Mavs now have a much needed two-day rest after playing each of the last four days. The Mavericks head to Lethbridge, Alberta, on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game.
Electrics 210 013 003 - 10 11 1
Mavericks 100 430 012 - 11 13 2
Ryan Beecroft, John Reilly (5) and Tyler Brinka. Conor Dwyer, Max Smith (4), Drew Lytle (5) and Sean Dwyer. W - Lytle. L - Reilly.
ELECTRICS - John Reilly 2-5, Jake Meierhoff 2-5, Zach Semenza 1-4, Tyler Fayden 3-4, Ryan Beecroft 2-5, Tyler Brinka 0-4, Casey Johnson 1-3, Curtis Bloomfield 1-4, Taylor Shannhan 0-5.
MAVERICKS - Dan Belet 2-4, Mac Cuffe 2-5, Conor Dwyer 1-3, Chris Bartenhagen 2-3, Cody Burgmeier 0-2, Travis Johnsen 2-4, Taylor King 1-4, Sean Dwyer 1-4, Brendan Brown 1-4, Taylor Nordby 1-1, Drew Lytle 1-2.
2B - Fayden, Beecroft, Semenza, Meierhoff, Johnson. RBIs. - Fayden 3, Bloomfield 2, Meierhoff, Semenza, Beecroft, Shannhan; Cuffe 3, Nordby 2, S. Dwyer 2, C. Dwyer, Bartenhagen, King, Brown.
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