Three Homers Key 11-3 Rout of Boise as Mustangs Win Series

BILLINGS-The Billings Mustangs hit three home runs and pounded out 14 hits in support of Elijah Gill who earned his first professional win in an 11-3 win over the Boise Hawks on Monday night at Dehler Park.

In the finale of the seven-game series, Billings (15-13) scored early and often to win their third straight series, taking four of seven from Boise (12-18) going into Tuesday's off day.

Both teams got off to quick starts as Boise collected a leadoff single, stolen base, groundout and a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game in the first off Gill.

However, the Mustangs answered in a big way as Crews Taylor led off with a single and scored on Jordan Hovey's two-run homer. On the very next pitch, Jalen Garcia ripped a long home run to left-center, his sixth of the season. The Mustangs weren't done, though, as Jackson Raper ripped a single to left-center, moved to third on consecutive groundouts. Brian Parreira then finished off the inning with an RBI single to right, staking the Mustangs to a 4-1 lead.

A similar pattern followed in the second as Boise strung together a pair of two-out hits to plate a run in the second, but the Mustangs answered again with their own two-out rally. Hovey doubled off the right-field wall, Garcia singled him in, and Raper followed with a double of his own to left-center, putting the Mustangs in front 6-2.

For a third straight inning, Boise plated a run in the third, though, as Tyler Jorgensen doubled down the right field line with one out, then scored a single to center by Juan Teixeira. However, once more, the Mustangs had an answer, once again with the longball. With two outs, Taylor ripped a solo home run over the right field wall and the Mustangs led 7-3 after 3.

The scoring finally settled down as Gill tossed scoreless fourth and fifth innings while Jordan Nelson threw a scoreless fourth for the Hawks. However, the Mustang offense showed up again in the fifth as Mitch Piatnik drew a leadoff walk then stole second. Taylor followed with his third hit of the game, a double to right-center to score Piatnik, upping the lead to 8-3.

The Mustangs added two more in the sixth and one more in the seventh, with Garcia capping off a three-hit, three-RBI night with an RBI double for the final Mustang tally.

Jack Goonan, Al Pesto, and McLain Harris each followed with scoreless innings to close out the 11-3 win.

Garcia had three hits and three RBI, while Hovey and Taylor each had three hits and a home run in the game. Gill went a career-high 6.0 innings, scattering nine hits and three runs in earning the win.

The Mustangs will travel to Colorado Springs on Tuesday before opening the series on Wednesday afternoon against the Rocky Mountain Vibes. Starters for both teams are still to be determined. Pregame on Wednesday afternoon will begin at 12:10 ahead of a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.