Voyagers Drop Osprey, Advance to Championship

Missoula, MT-The Voyagers batted around in a six-run 4^th that propelled them to an 8-5 Pioneer League Division Series-clinching victory over the Missoula Osprey Monday night at Ogren Park-Allegiance Field.

Great Falls (2-0) completed a two-game series sweep of Missoula (0-2) to earn their first trip to the league championship series since 2011. The Voyagers will face the Ogden Raptors in game 1 Thursday night at Lindquist Field in Utah.
The Osprey scored first for a second straight night with a three-run bottom of the 3^rd. Joel Novas led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Gabriel Maciel then walked. A wild pitch moved both runners up to second and third. With one out, Keshawn Lynch opened the scoring with a sacrifice line out into center that scored Novas tagging from third. A two-out, two-run home run deep to straightaway center by Andy Yerzy made it 3-0. It was Yerzy's second of the playoffs.
A rapid response by the Voyagers in the 4^th gave them a lead that would stand for the remainder of the game. Three consecutive singles from Justin Yurchak, J.J. Muno, and Tate Blackman loaded the bases. A fielder's choice from Nate Nolan plated the first run. David Cronin doubled up the right field side to drive in a run. Nolan Brown then tied it with a single into left. Great Falls took its first lead of the night with a three-run home run clubbed high and deep to right by Craig Dedelow for a 6-3 cushion. It was Dedelow's first homer of the postseason.
After Missoula closed the gap to 6-4 with a run in the bottom of the 4^th, the Voyagers added two runs in the 5^th for an 8-4 lead. J.J. Muno reached base with a one-out hit-by-pitch. With two outs, Nate Nolan smashed a two-run home run deep to left for his second in as many nights and it was 8-4 Great Falls. The Osprey scored the game's final run in the bottom of the 5^th.
The Voyagers outhit Missoula 12-to-10. Craig Dedelow finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and one run scored. Nate Nolan collected two hits with three RBIs and two runs scored. For Missoula, Andy Yerzy had two hits with two RBIs and a run. Eduardo Diaz homered and posted two hits.
Adam Panayotovich picked up the win in relief. Panayotovich (1-0) worked two-and-two-thirds and gave up one earned run on four hits with one strikeout and no walks. Elvis Luciano suffered the loss. Luciano lasted three-and-a-third and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk. Will Kincanon notched the save with one walk in the 9^th. Sean Renzi pitched two clean innings in relief as well with one strikeout.   
Great Falls plays game 1 in the best-of-three championship series Thursday night at Ogden. First pitch at Lindquist Field is scheduled for 6:30. Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday night at Centene Stadium in Great Falls. If necessary, game 3 will be played Sunday night at 6 o'clock. For ticketing and promotional information, call 406-452-5311 or visit www.gfvoyagers.com.