Mustangs Hold Off Voyagers 15-11 to Even Series

GREAT FALLS-The Billings Mustangs played their longest and highest-scoring game of the season on Saturday night in Great Falls, but outlasted the Great Falls Voyagers 15-11 in a 3-hour, 58-minute marathon.

Billings (10-10) got 5.1 solid innings from Darrien Ragins, got a home run from Gabe Wurtz, and scored multiple runs in five different innings to hold off a Great Falls (15-8) attack that plated 11 runs, but stranded 16 runners.

For a second straight night, Billings scored three runs in the top of the first. The scoring happened in bizarre fashion, as a walk, error, and single loaded the bases with one out. However, after the walk, Great Falls starter Alexander Castro did not call time before discarding the baseball, and all runners advanced to score the first run. A groundout then brought in a second run before Brian Parriera ripped a single to right to make it 3-0 Mustangs.

Billings starter Darrien Ragins was able to work around a two-on, no-out jam in the first, but Great Falls struck in the second. Ragins walked the leadoff batter before a line drive to right-center off the bat of Myles McKisic took a bad hop over Gabe Wurtz's head, allowing a run to score.

The Mustangs answered back immediately in the third, though, loading the bases with one out. Nick Ultsch looped a single to center which scored two runs, chasing Castro. After the pitching change, Christian Pena dumped a single into shallow right which plated another run, putting Billings up 6-1.

That score held as Ragins kept the Voyagers off the scoreboard over the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Billings gave him another run as Mason Denison was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a single from Jalen Garcia.

However, Ragins ran out of gas in the sixth. With one out, a single and walk chased Ragins, who gave way after 5 1/3 innings to Foster Pace. Pace promptly served up a two-run triple to Adam Oviedo and a walk. However, Pace struck out the next two hitters to keep the Mustangs in front 7-3.

Billings responded with three more runs in the seventh on a double from Ultsch and a two-run single from Jordan Hovey. After Pace worked himself into and out of a bases-loaded jam, Billings extended the lead to 13-3 in the eighth on an RBI single from Raper and a two-run hit from Pena.

However, Great Falls went down far from quietly. The Voyagers strung together five hits and scored five times in the bottom of the eighth. Billings answered by earning a little more breathing room thanks to Wurtz's two-run homer.

They would need it as Great Falls scored three more runs in the ninth, but Al Pesto shut the door, earning the final two outs in a 15-11 win to even the series.

The Mustangs will wrap things up in Great Falls with a rubber game on Sunday afternoon. RHP Yasnier Laureano (2-1, 2.20) gets the ball for the Mustangs, while LHP Tyler Naumann (0-0, 4.50) counters for the Voyagers. Pregame tomorrow night will begin at 3:40 p.m. on ESPN 910/105.5 with Brennan Mense on the call ahead of a 4:00 first pitch at Centene Stadium.