Von Ruden Pitches Voyagers to Series Sweep

Great Falls, MT-The Voyagers produced their first three-game series sweep of the season and their second shutout win with a 4-0 victory over division-rival Billings Thursday night at Centene Stadium.

With the sweep, Great Falls (28-32, 13-9) is now on its longest home winning streak of the season at five. The Voyagers improved to 7-5 against Billings in the season series. Great Falls is four games up on Missoula and five ahead of the Mustangs for first-place in the Pioneer League North Division. The Voyagers are 8-1 in their last nine games. Billings (26-33, 8-14) has lost five in a row.
The Voyagers scored all their runs over three consecutive innings early in the contest. A single run in the 2^nd proved to be all they would need for the entire night. Justin Yurchak led off the frame with a double deep to the wall in right. A groundout pushed Yurchak to third and he later scored on a balk.
In the 3^rd, Craig Dedelow made it 3-0 with a two-run scoring single lined into right. Max Dutto and Logan Taylor scored on the play. Dutto had led off with a walk and Taylor reached on a single to right. The Voyagers scored an unearned run in the 4^th for the game's final margin.
Kyle Von Ruden turned in a masterful performance on the mound to earn the win. Von Ruden (3-2) posted his eighth quality start of the season and third in a row. He lasted eight innings and gave up just two hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. It was the longest outing by a Voyagers pitcher this season. The nine strikeouts matched a single-game season-high for a Great Falls hurler. The two hits allowed tied a season-low for Von Ruden. Sean Renzi finished the game in the 9^th with one strikeout. Luis Alecis took the loss for Billings. Alecis (5-5) went five-and-two-thirds and yielded four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Great Falls outhit Billings 9-to-2. Justin Yurchak led the way with three hits and a run scored. Craig Dedelow went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. The Mustangs did not have a single base runner reach second the whole game.  
                      
Great Falls begins a four-game road trip Friday night with the first of two at Billings. First pitch at Dehler Park is scheduled for 7:05. The Voyagers play two at Missoula after their series with the Mustangs. For 2017 ticketing and promotional information, call 406-452-5311 or visit www.gfvoyagers.com.