Mustangs Swept in Saturday Night Doubleheader

BILLINGS-The Billings Mustangs were swept in a Saturday night doubleheader at Dehler Park, falling 5-2 and 8-6 to the Boise Hawks in front of the first sellout crowd of the season.

With a season-high 3,246 fans on hand, Billings (13-13) couldn't hold a sixth inning lead in game one and had a five-run comeback all go for naught in the second game as Boise (12-16) held on for the sweep.

Game one developed as a pitcher's duel between Mustang starter Darrien Ragins and Boise hurler Buddie Pindel, as no runs scored in the first three innings. Pindel struck out six Mustangs in that time while Ragins fanned six over the first four innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, Pindel set down the first two Mustangs, but with two outs, Brian Parreira ambushed a first-pitch fastball and hit a line drive over the wall in right field to put the Mustangs in front 1-0.

Ragins finished five scoreless innings before allowing a leadoff single in the sixth. He was then lifted for Hunter DePrimo who proceeded to retire the next two hitters. However, Raymond Gil lined a double on a 1-2 pitch that tied the game. The following hitter, Ryan Walstad, then dumped a soft single into center to put Boise up 2-1.

The Mustangs had an opportunity to answer in the bottom of the inning, lining back-to-back singles with one out, but Noah McBride entered and retired the next two hitters on two pitches to end the inning.

Boise then put the game away with an insurance run in the ninth. Colin Kelly, making his first appearance of the season after missing the first month of the season, walked and hit a batter, sandwiched around a single, to load the bases with no outs. Kelly was lifted, but Boise scored all three runners off McLain Harris to put the game away.

The Mustangs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but fell 5-2.

In the nightcap, Yasnier Laureano started things off with two scoreless innings for the Mustangs before his offense got him a second-inning run. A double, walk, and hit batter loaded the bases with no outs. However, Boise starter Braiden Spears buckled down and struck out the next two batters before Mitch Piatnik drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the first run of the game.

However, Boise answered back in the next two innings. In the third, Haloa Dudoit ripped a one-out double, moved to third on two walks, then scored on a sacrifice fly. An inning later, Gil drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on a single, and scored on a second sac fly to put Boise up 2-1.

In the fifth, the Hawks tacked on two more thanks to free baserunners. Laureano walked the first two hitters before being lifted for Bret Barnett, who proceeded to load the bases by hitting the next hitter. Back-to-back sacrifice flies followed from Juan Teixeira and Gil to up the Boise lead to 4-1.

Boise continued adding on in the sixth as Dudoit singled through a drawn in infield to put Boise firmly in command, 6-1.

However, the Mustangs stormed back in the sixth. Two singles brought Gabe Wurtz to the plate as a pinch hitter. He answered the call with a three-run homer to pull the Mustangs within two. After a pitching change, Mitch Piatnik singled and Jordan Hovey tripled him in. A wild pitch then brought home Hovey to tie the game.

Alas, it was not to be. In the seventh, an error helped prolong the inning for Jacob Cruce, who ripped a two-out, two-run double to left center to but Boise back on top. In the bottom of the inning, the Mustangs put two men in scoring position with no outs, only for three straight strikeouts to end the game, an 8-6 loss.

The penultimate game of this seven-game set between the Mustangs and Hawks will take place on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs while Boise counters with RHP Matt Gabbert (3-0, 4.43). Pregame tomorrow will begin at 12:45 p.m. on ESPN 910/105.5 with Brennan Mense on the call ahead of a 1:05 first pitch at Dehler Park