Hall, Karvandi, and Supola Lead Missoula Impact to Solid Win Over the Bitterroot Bucs, 11-2
FLORENCE - Marek Hall scattered six hits over five efficient innings on the mound and Nick Karvandi continued his torrid hitting with three hits to lead the Missoula Impact Baseball Club to a solid win over the Bitterroot Bucs, 11-2, on Wednesday evening.
In a game that was a showcase of young talent from both squads - with each team starting mostly sophomores, freshmen, and eighth graders - Impact got the better of the talented Bucs.
Joey Supola went 2-for-3 with three RBIS, including a key clutch two-run single that evened the score in the fourth inning. Karvandi’s three hits included a triple off the fence in right field and senior catcher Dillon Gunlock hammered a long double. In total, Missoula clubbed 11 hits to pace their increasingly prolific attack.
Impact received solid pitching from sophomores Hall and Supola. In relief, Supola tossed two hitless and scoreless innings to seal the victory. Missoula played solid defense, committing only one error, and received nice plays from Hunter Johns on a pivotal line drive to center field and by Matthew Doty on two tough plays at third base.
“We were able to continue the momentum coming off our win against Mission Valley,” said Ryan Roche, Missoula Impact Manager. “Hall had a fantastic outing and Supola did a great job finishing the game. Offensively we continued to swing the bat and do damage.”
The Bucs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and looked to be cruising behind a solid outing by junior right-handed Isaiah Testerman. However, Missoula mounted a rally in the fourth inning when Nick Karvandi led off with an infield single and Nolan Oschell walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Supola, one of Missoula’s hottest hitters of late, stroked a line drive two-RBI single to left center to knot the score, 2-2.
Missoula rallied in the fifth with a Landin Ramsay single, a walk by Gunlock, and successive RBI singles by Karvandi and Oschell. Supola capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to center, making it 5-2.
Hall breezed through the fifth and Missoula piled it on in the sixth inning. Johns reached on an infield single, Madden Hensel drilled a sharp single to left, and after a Bucs error, Gunlock crushed a line drive RBI double to right-center. Karvandi then put the game away with a towering drive to right field for an RBI triple. Doty smoked a line drive double down the left field line and later scored to seal the victory in the seventh inning.
Missoula (11-8) wraps up its seven games in seven days with games against the Bitterroot Red Sox in Hamilton on Thursday night and against the Frenchtown Broncs club team in Bonner on Friday evening.