Labbe Gem and Kunz Homer Lead Missoula Impact to Semifinals Win over Gillette Rage, 5-3, in Billings Tourney

BILLINGS – Brennan Labbe tossed a sparkling complete game six-hitter, Luke Kunz drilled a clutch three-run homer, and Cole Smith continued his torrid hitting streak to lead Missoula Impact to a solid 5-3 victory over the Gillette Rage in the semifinals of the Billings UpperDeck Expos Tournament at Rocky Mountain College.

Labbe used a devastating curve and lively four-seam fastball to silence the Rage bats all morning, notching 10 strikeouts and giving up only two earned runs in an overpowering performance. In his final start of the season, the talented sophomore southpaw displayed immaculate control in walking only a single Gillette batter.

Gillette struck first in the opening frame as Jay Morgan drilled a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shawn Kellar. Impact loaded the bases on three walks in the first inning and then again in the second with singles by Easton Mitchell and Carson Bay sandwiched around a walk to Dillon Gunlock. However, Gillette’s Kellar worked his way out of the jam unscathed each time. Labbe then turned it up a notch, blowing away the Gillette hitters over the next three innings including striking out the side in the top of the third.

Smith ignited a rally in the third with a sharp single to center, followed by a walk to Matty Herzog. With one out and two strikes, Kunz then hammered a high fastball over the fence in right-center for a three-run home run that immediately changed the momentum and complexion of the game in giving Missoula a 3-1 lead.

Labbe then slammed the door on the Rage by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, including punching out Conner Hoxie on strikes. However, Gillette tacked on a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Morgan, cutting the gap to 3-2.

The red-hot Smith stroked a line drive single to left to lead off the fifth, reaching reach base for the seventh consecutive time, including a sizzling 6-for-6 hitting display. Herzog followed with a liner to center, then Kunz raked an RBI single to stretch the Impact lead to 4-2. Gunlock led off the sixth with a sharp single, the Labbe hammered an RBI double over the centerfielder’s head to put the game away.

Kunz and Smith each notched two hits each and Kunz had four RBIs to back Labbe’s stellar outing. Smith ran his four-game tally in the tournament to reaching base in 11 of 15 at-bats.