Doesn’t matter because Carter Perlinski’s three-run fifth-inning bomb cleared the fence with ease, vaulting the southpaw slugger among some of Helena’s finest and rocketing the Senators into Thursday’s state tournament second round.
“Just trying to battle pitches, stay in the game, put something in play,” Perlinski said. “Just trying to move on to the next guy there…It’s pretty awesome, being able to hit more than I did last year and just keep putting good numbers up.”
Slugging .686 with 29 extra-base hits and a team-best 54 RBI, Perlinski spoiled consecutive Kaleb Bozek breaking balls before the righty hung one and the Cow Poke blasted it skyward pull-side.
That blast quadrupled Helena’s one-run advantage, allowing head coach Jon Burnett to alter his team’s pitching strategy and yank starter Tyler Beaver with one out in the fifth and 60 pitches.
Beaver, who earned victory No. 14 Wednesday, is now eligible to throw again as soon as Saturday on the heels of 5.1 innings of six-hit, one-run baseball.
