Cowan's Clutch Save Helps Glacier to 7-6 Win

MISSOULA, MT. - Cam Cowan finished the game with a dynamite six-out save, and Kingston Liniak belted two home runs and drove in three runs to lead the Glacier Range Riders to a 7–6 victory over the Missoula PaddleHeads on Saturday night at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field.

Cowan came into the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a one-run lead where he enticed a grounder back to him for an easy out, then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. In the ninth, the Range Rider closer struck out the first two with ease, before a two-out walk brough reigning PBL Batter of the Week Roberto Pena to the plate, representing the winning run. Cowan dealt with him with ease, striking out the former Kansas State product on four pitches to end it.

Liniak went deep in the fifth and seventh innings, the latter proving to be the game-winning blast—a solo shot to center that capped a back-and-forth slugfest.

Missoula struck first in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Adam Fogel. But Glacier responded in the third with a three-run inning: Angel Mendoza tied the game with a solo homer to left (his second in as many nights), followed by an RBI double from Liniak and a run-scoring single from Kenny Levari to give the Range Riders a 3–1 lead.

Fogel answered in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer to right, tying the game at three.

Liniak's first homer of the night, a solo shot to left in the fifth, briefly put Glacier back in front before Peña evened the score again with a solo home run in the bottom half of the frame.

JD McLaughlin gave the Range Riders a 6–4 advantage in the sixth with a two-run homer to right. Kamron Willman cut the lead to one in the bottom half with a solo shot of his own.

Liniak's second homer in the seventh provided just enough insurance, as the Glacier bullpen held on down the stretch.

Luke Schafer picked up the win, tossing six innings while allowing five runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking three. Reece Fields took the loss for Missoula, giving up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief. Matthew Sox started for the PaddleHeads, surrendering four runs on nine hits across 4.1 innings. Jason Franks also appeared in relief with a solid inning.

The Range Riders tallied 14 hits in total. McLaughlin, Mendoza, Xavier Casserilla, and Levari all collected multiple hits.

Fogel led the PaddleHeads offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Willman, Fogel, and Peña each notched two hits for Missoula, which also turned two double plays in the game.

The finale of the six-game series in Missoula will be played tomorrow, with first pitch coming from Ogren Park at 2:05 PM.