After a pair of losses dropped them out of first place for the first time this season in the American Legion baseball's Western Division over the weekend, the Class AA Missoula Mavericks bounced back in style with a 15-5 victory over the Great Falls Electrics on Tuesday at Lindborg-Cregg Field.
In a game that ended after 6fi innings due to the 10-run margin rule, the Mavs used a nine-run sixth to bump their record to 12-3 in league play, 42-18 overall. But like always, it didn't come easy.
But Mavs shortstop Taylor King ripped a two-run single in the fifth to tie it and catcher Sean Dwyer singled home a run in the fifth to put Missoula up for good before the breakout sixth frame.
Missoula manager Brent Hathaway believed the game turned on on King's two-out single in the fourth.
“King came back with a huge hit to tie it up, which I thought was the momentum swing of the game,” Hathaway said. “We tied that thing back up and then all of a sudden you see everything change. It's that confident feeling and that's just huge for our guys.”
The Mavs accounted for 15 hits on the evening, led by center fielder Ben Roberts, who singled three times and drove in a pair. Dwyer added three RBIs in a
2-for-4 effort and Cubby Pierre drove in three on a bases-loaded double in the sixth. King, Kendal Maier and Drew Lytle each collected a pair of hits as only one Missoula starter failed to post a base hit.
Maverick starting pitcher Brendan Brown (6-3) had far from his best stuff, but toughed out a complete-game victory, allowing six hits and four walks while fanning five.
“You do have to give him some credit for the way he battled out there tonight,” Hathaway said. “Even though it was a rough one, he didn't fold his tent.”
In the Mavs' half of the sixth, Lytle led the frame with his first career triple, before an RBI single by Roberts, a double by Brown and a two-run single off Dwyer's bat opened the flood gates.
Ethan Hortick paced the Electrics, going 2-for-3 with a triple. Brinka took the loss in 5 1-3 innings of work. He surrendered 11 hits, walked three and struck out four.
“If we play with confidence and we play with a lead, we're twice the team than when we doubt ourselves,” Hathaway said, “I guess it's no different than any team. We have to play with confidence.”
The Electrics and Mavs face off again Wednesday at Lindborg-Cregg at 1 p.m.
Notes: Dwyer's three RBIs improved his team-leading total to 66. Brown is second on the Mavs with 49... Of the 11 pitchers who have seen time on the mound for Missoula this season, none has a losing record... The Great Falls Stallions, who took over first place by sweeping Missoula over the weekend, beat Kalispell 13-4 and 9-2 Tuesday to move to 17-4 in conference.
Great Falls 005 000 0 - 5 6 2
Missoula 300 219 x - 15 15 3
Tyler Brinka, Greg Schroeder (6), Tucker Cook (6) and Ethan Hortick, Brinka (6), Brendan Brown and Sean Dwyer. W - Brown (6-3). L - Brinka.
GREAT FALLS - John Reilly 0-3, Hortick 2-3, Casey Johnson 1-2, Cook 0-3, Hunter Carlyon 1-3, Brinka 1-3, Joel LaRance 0-3, Schroeder 0-0, Spenser Hart 0-0, Taylor Shanahan 1-3, Jake Olson 0-2.
MISSOULA - Taylor King 2-4, Ben Roberts 3-5, Brown 1-3, Dwyer 2-4, Sam Sopko 0-2, Matt McMann 0-0, Taylor Nordby 1-2, Kendal Maier 2-3, Drew Lytle 2-3, Cubby Pierre 2-3.
2B - Smith, Brown, Nordby, Pierre. 3B - Hortick, Shanahan, King, Lytle. RBIs - Johnson, Carlyon, Brinka 2, King 2, Roberts 2, Dwyer 3, Sopko, Nordby, Lytle, Pierre 3.
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