Mustangs Rally Past Range Riders in Rubber Game

KALISPELL-The Billings Mustangs broke a tie with four eighth inning runs and Jordan Hovey had three hits and a homer to pace the Mustangs to an 8-5 win over the Glacier Range Riders on Thursday night at Flathead Field.

Playing in a rubber game for the first time this season, Billings (9-9) secured their first road series win of the season, while Glacier (8-12) failed to win their first-ever home series.

For a third straight game, Billings jumped out to a lead in the first inning. Crews Taylor doubled to lead off the game against Glacier starter Austin Edwards, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came home on an RBI single by Jalen Garcia.

Glacier answered back in the bottom of the first as Sam Linscott doubled off the right-center field wall with one out, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game.

However, Mustangs added tallies in the next two innings. Tristan Peterson was plunked to lead off the second, moved to third on a double from Mason Dinesen and came home on a Christian Pena groundout. An inning later, Garcia led off with a single, moved to third on a double from Jackson Raper and scored on a Gabe Wurtz single.

In the fifth, Billings added another run as Hovey connected on a 2-1 offering from Edwards and deposited well over the right-field wall for a solo homer, which gave Billings a 4-1 lead.

Gill, meanwhile worked out of a first and third jam in fourth by inducing a 6-4-3 double play, then followed it up with a 1-2-3 fifth to finish 5.0 innings in his professional debut.

McLain Harris then entered to make his professional debut. After recording the first two outs in the sixth, Dean Miller crushed a solo homer. An inning later against Jean Correa, Glacier again mounted a two-out rally. A walk, triple, and single brought in two runs, tying the game at four.

However, the Mustangs mounted a two-out rally of their own in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two down, Brian Parreira pinch hit and ripped a two-run double down the right-field line on a full count to give the Mustangs the lead back. Not done yet, Pena singled, then moved up to second on a ball in the dirt. Taylor followed with a two-run single through the left side, giving the Mustangs an 8-4 lead.

Down but not out, Glacier again mounted a two-out rally in the eighth, this time against Foster Pace. After the first two hitters were retired, the Range Riders strung together three hits to score a run, with Brandt Broussard's double cutting the lead to 8-5. However, Ryan Cash was thrown out off of third on the play the end the inning.

Pace then retired the side in the ninth to nail down the victory and a series win over the Range Riders.

The Mustangs will hit the road to Great Falls for a three-game series beginning Friday night. RH Kelvan Pilot (1-2, 5.74) gets the ball for the Mustangs, while LHP Quincy Jones (1-1, 6.00) counters for the Voyagers. Pregame tomorrow night will begin at 6:40 p.m. on ESPN 910/105.5 with Brennan Mense on the call ahead of a 7:00 first pitch at Centene Stadium.