Mustangs Muscle Three Homers, Outlast Glacier 10-9

KALISPELL-The Billings Mustangs hit three home runs and hung on for a 10-9 over the Glacier Range Riders on Thursday night at Flathead Field.

Billings (23-20) reached double-digits in runs for the first time since June 30 as they snapped a three-game losing streak, while Glacier (16-28) saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

After both teams went down in order, both teams broke out the longball in the second inning. On Logan Van Wey's first pitch of the inning, Jackson Raper crushed one the opposite way to put the Mustangs on top. However, with one out in the bottom of the inning, Dean Miller unloaded on a 1-0 pitch from Mustang starter Elijah Gill, evening the score at one apiece.

The third and fourth innings flew by with no meaningful events, but the Mustang offense came to life in the fifth. After a leadoff infield single from Jordan Barth, Bryce Jackson crushed a majestic home run to deep right-center to put the Mustangs up a pair. The Mustangs weren't done, though. A walk and single put two on with two out for Gabe Wurtz, who drove a pitch into left field for an RBI single, putting the Mustangs up 4-1.

Against Gill, Glacier got a run back in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Justin Mazzone singled and came all the way around when Eddie McCabe followed with a double. Gill then buckled down and finished the fifth with a two-run lead.

However, Glacier rallied back against the Billings bullpen in the sixth. Hunter DePrimo entered the game, but surrendered hits to three of his first four hitters, scoring a run. Beaux Bonvillain entered, but surrendered a single to Mazzone to tie the game at four each.

Billings, though, had an answer right away. With one on and one out, Jalen Garcia unloaded on a 1-0 fastball from Tanner Solomon to give the Mustangs the lead back. His eighth homer put Billings up 6-4.

In the eighth, the Mustangs padded the lead some more against Quentin Longrie. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder's choice, bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch put three runs on the board, putting Billings ahead 9-4.

Glacier, though, battled back. With one out, they strung together four straight singles off Foster Pace, scoring two runs. Darrien Ragins then entered the fray, earning a strikeout and flyout to limit the damage to two. The score was now 9-6.

In the ninth, Raper led off with a fly ball to deep right center, but Ben McConnell lost it in the twilight and it landed behind him for a triple. A wild pitch brought him home for the tenth Mustang run.

As it turned out, the Mustangs needed it. Ragins started the ninth with a strikeout, but then allowed a double and an infield single. After a pop-up for the second out, Miller struck again, crushing a three-run homer over the center field wall to cut the Mustang lead to one.

Al Pesto then entered the game. However, he was able to induce a flyout to center off the bat of Livingston Morris to end the game and nail down his fourth save, a 10-9 victory.

The Mustangs will play game five of the seven-game series in Kalispell against the Glacier Range Riders on Friday. The Mustangs will start RHP Sean Kiley (3-0, 3.07), while Glacier will throw RHP Noah Barros (4-3, 6.69). Pregame on Friday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:45 ahead of a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.