Range Riders Win Again to Grab Best Record in the PBL

FLATHEAD VALLEY, Mont. - The Glacier Range Riders continued the best start in franchise history on Wednesday night, improving to 7-1 and moving into sole possession of first place in the Pioneer League with a 6-4 victory over the Great Falls Voyagers at Glacier Bank Park.

The Range Riders wasted no time jumping ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Logan Beard ripped an RBI double to get Glacier on the board before Donovan Ratfield added another run with a groundout. An error later in the inning brought home two more runs to give the Range Riders a 4-0 lead.

Crucial insurance runs were added in the sixth inning when JD McLaughlin brought home one run on a single, and Beard followed suit with a single of his own to push the Range Riders up 6-1 at that point.

Jake Covey turned in another strong outing on the mound to earn the win for Glacier. The right-hander allowed just one run on five hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking two. He also pushed his rookie season record to 2-0 after a solid win last week, as well. Esteban Hernandez took the loss for Great Falls after surrendering four runs, two earned, across five innings.

Things got a little hairy in the ninth when the Voyagers fought off a pitch down to their last strike and brought home a run putting the tying run on the basepaths, but it was Jacob Hasty that came in to deliver the final out and pick up his first save of the year. Connor Housley delivered a scoreless inning of relief.

Beard led the offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Carson Garner added two hits. Kyle Ashworth showed patience at the plate with three walks as the Range Riders drew 10 walks overall.

The Range Riders and Voyagers battle again on Thursday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM from Glacier Bank Park.