(Editor’s note: Missoula Osprey release)
MISSOULA – MISSOULA, MT – It is being called the “Zac(k) Attack” as Osprey fans begin to realize just how much offense Osprey C Zac Almond and 1B Zack Shannon are creating on a nightly basis. The “Zac(k) Attack” was on full display Wednesday Night as the duo joined forces with SS Blaze Alexander to lead the Osprey past the Rockies 12-4.
Almond bashed two homeruns early in the game to tie Shannon for the Pioneer League lead in homeruns with 12. Two innings later, Shannon re-took the league lead with a towering drive to center for his 13th of the year. Alexander added a two-run homerun of his own and Osprey starter Erin Baldwin was brilliant over five innings to get his 3rd win of the season.
The Osprey offense got off to a fantastic start in the 1st. With one out, Alexander singled to left and then scored on Almond’s 1st homerun of the night. Up 2-0, Shannon then walked and later scored on a fielding error by Grand Junction SS Cristopher Navarro. The Rockies came right back in the 2nd and got a run back as CF Daniel Montano singled home 1B Grant Lavigne. However, that was all the Rockies could muster against Baldwin who went 5 innings while allowing only one hit, the one run, and struck out three.
Almond hit his 2nd homerun of the game in the 5th. It was a no doubter to left that was river bound. The solo shot made it 4-1 Missoula. The Rockies got the run back in the top of the 6th on a sac fly, but the Osprey got two more on Alexander’s homerun in the bottom half for a 6-2 lead.
Shannon’s solo homerun in the 7th got the Osprey the momentum back after the Rockies had pulled to within 6-4 in the top of the inning on Reese Berberet’s 2-run homerun. Missoula then added to their lead in the 8th on CF Alek Thomas’ RBI double.
Alexander then walked to bring up the “Zac(k) Attack” duo for another opportunity. Almond was walked on five pitches to load the bases for Shannon who delivered a 2-run single. LF Kristian Robinson then doubled off the wall to bring home two more and complete the scoring in a 12-4 win. Almond and Shannon had identical hitting lines with 3 hits, 3 runs, and 3 RBI in 4 at bats. They are both chasing the Pioneer League lead in all three “triple crown” statistical categories. In batting average, Almond is 1st and Shannon is 3rd. In homeruns, Shannon is 1st and Almond is 2nd. In RBI, Shannon is 1st and Almond is in the top 5 only 5 back of his teammate.
The Osprey and Rockies conclude their four game series on Thursday Night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Game time is 7:05. Tickets are on sale now at the MSO Hub in downtown Missoula or by visiting the Osprey at www.missoulaosprey.com
