VanWey and Co. Houdini Their Way to a Win in Great Falls
Great Falls, MT. – The Glacier Range Riders (7-8) needed to get out of three bases loaded jams to do it, but they were able to double-up the Great Falls Voyagers (11-5) on Friday night by a score of 10-5.
It didn't take long for the hosts to break into the scoring column, as they ran one across in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. Glacier responded in the next half inning with two RBI singles, one from both Jared Fry and Ryan Cash, before an error allowed Cash himself to cross home. The Riders topped that off with a few more runs in the third. First, Gabe Howell scored on a wild pitch, just getting off the base paths in time to watch Brody Wofford's solo home run on the next pitch. Wofford grabbed another RBI in the next inning, when he drove home Ben McConnell on a double to the gap.
Starting pitcher Logan VanWey pitched a solid six full innings, but it wasn't without some testy moment. In the fifth, a hit batter and two singles stuffed the bases with nobody out and VanWey needing to make a play. He did exactly that, striking out the Voyager clean-up hitter before turning to his defense to get a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame. Glacier fans were again forced to sweat in the sixth when Great Falls loaded the bases with two outs, but VanWey maneuvered his way out of it with another big strikeout.
Runs were all pushed home later in the contest by Howell, Cash, and McConnell. Those runs, plus an error that scored Cash after a sac bunt from Brandt Broussard made it 10 runs for the Glacier offense. The Voyagers put up a fight scoring one in the seventh and two in the eighth to put themselves down five going up for their last hacks. Savvy at-bats by Great Falls helped them again cram the bases, this time with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Clutch pitching came through again for the visitors, though, as Austin Steinfort was able to slam the door without allowing a run across from the jam.
Despite having four decent starts, this was the first professional win for Logan VanWey, putting his record to 1-0 on the campaign. Five different Range Riders had two hits, while Cash led the way with three. Both Cash and Wofford had two RBIs, while Cash and Livingston Morris each scored two runs.
The Range Riders will matchup with the Voyagers for the fourth contest of the six-game set in Great Falls tomorrow night when they play again. First pitch is set for 7 PM at Centene Stadium.