Bats Come Alive as Mustangs Snap Skid With 7-3 Victory

BILLINGS-Jacob Kline was a single short of the cycle and the Billings Mustangs crushed three homers in the first four innings to lead the way in a 7-3 victory over the Great Falls Voyagers in front of 3,061 fans on Saturday night at Dehler Park.

On Christmas in July, Billings (2-3, 27-24) gave their fans their best offensive output of the series and also struck out 11 Great Falls (3-2, 30-22) hitters to snap a three-game losing streak.

Great Falls jumped out to a quick lead against McLain Harris, who made his first start of the season for the Mustangs. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs for Michael Deeb, who lined an RBI single to center. However, Harris induced a strikeout and a double play to limit the damage to just one run.

In the bottom of the first, Billings got the run back and then some. Crews Taylor led off by reaching on an error then two batters later scored when Jalen Garcia ripped a two-run home run off the base of the scoreboard in right-center field to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

An inning later, Billings added two more. Bryce Jackson singled and Kline followed with a double. Brian Parreira and Jordan Barth each drove in one runner with groundouts, pushing the lead to 4-1.

In the third, Great Falls got one back as Riley Jepson and Breydon Daniel started the inning with consecutive doubles. However, Harris buckled down and ended his three-inning outing by striking out the final three batters , giving him six on the night and allowing him to depart with a 4-2 lead.

In the fourth, the Mustangs brought out the longball again. With one out, Jacob Kline ripped a line drive just over the left-field wall for his fifth home run of the season. After a two-out walk, Taylor struck, belting a 2-0 fastball over the right-field wall for his tenth roundtripper, giving the Mustangs a 7-2 lead.

Against Foster Pace, the Voyagers put together a threat in the fifth as an error and two singles brought in a run with no outs. However, Pace began a 1-6-3 groundout and coaxed a groundout to third to again limit the damage to just one run, leaving the Mustangs with a 7-3 lead.

On the mound, Pace settled in, throwing scoreless sixth and seventh innings. He worked a season-high 4.0 innings in relief and retired the final eight men he faced. Beaux Bonvillain, meanwhile, allowed a leadoff single in the eighth, but ended that inning with a double play and a strikeout. Al Pesto fired a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to polish off the win.

As for Kline, he tripled in the sixth and needed just a single in his final at-bat in the eighth for the cycle. Alas, he hit a ground ball to second and reached on an error in his final at-bat of the night.

The Mustangs will finish the series against the Great Falls Voyagers on Sunday afternoon. Billings with start LHP Elijah Gill (2-0, 2.70), while Great Falls will counter with RHP Matt Thomas (0-3, 7.50). Tomorrow will be another Family Fun Day Sunday with 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks, 4 Frosty coupons, and a scoreboard for just $44. Pregame on Saturday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 12:45 ahead of a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.