Mariners down Mavs in shortened doubleheader

Is it really a doubleheader if they play just one game?

While rain caused the second matchup of the day to be canceled, the Mission Valley Mariners did plenty of damage before the storm clouds rolled in, defeating the Missoula Mavs 6-0 yesterday in Polson to improve to 9-4 in conference play.

Josh Rustad, ever the model of efficiency, threw 63 pitches in six innings and held the Mavs to just three hits.

The M's built their lead in the first half of the game, as Justin Evertz took the first pitch and deposited it off the Mission Valley Mariners' scoreboard for a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Rustad would clear the Mavs the very next inning with two strikeouts and Jack Humphrey's threw out a baserunner at second.

Humphrey's bunted in Kevin Hagedorn in the bottom of the frame for the 3-0 lead.

While the Mavs would get their first hit of the game in the top of the third, the Mariners quickly shutdown the inning thanks to a Evertz-to-Chris Clary double play and a Rustad strikeout.

In the bottom of the third, Jake Young singled to load the bases and then Hagedorn walked to bring home a run. Dalton Molzhon followed that up with a double which plated two more runs and put the Mariners up 6-0. It took the Mavs pitcher 32 pitches to get through the inning.

Young and Molzhon were both 2-for-4 in the game.

The closest Missoula came to scoring in the game came in the top of the sixth as the leadoff batter hit a double, and then the second batter up launched a ball to center field. However, Hagedorn made a web gem-worthy catch to neutralize the threat. Rustad got the next two batters to strike out and fly out. He finished the game with five strikeouts.

Rustard iced the game in the seventh, getting the Mavs to hit into a double play and then getting the last batter to ground out to the first base.

GAME NOTES - The Mariners avenged a doubleheader sweep by the Mavs last week. In Rustad's last outing, he led Mission Valley to a 3-0 victory over Mead from Washington State. The middle of the lineup between the No. 3 and No. 6 spot got six of the Mariners eight hits against the Mavs. The second game was canceled because of rain and will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Missoula - 000 - 000 - 0 - 0
Mission Valley - 213 - 000 - x - 6


Missoula - 3 hits and 1 error. Mission Valley - 8 hits and 1 error.

Mariners batting - Jack Humphreys 0-2, Austin Von Tom 0-3, Justin Evertz 2-4, Chris Clary 1-2, Robbie Gauthier 1-1, Jacob Young 2-4, Cole McArthur 0-2, Kevin Hagedorn 0-1, Dalton Molzhon 2-3. Doubles - Molzhon. Home Runs - Evertz. RBIs - Humphreys, Evertz 2, Hagedorn, Mohlzon 2.  

M pitching - Josh Rustad (6 IP, 5K, 63 pitches)

For the full galley, click on "read more"...