Gill's Gem, Key Miscue Aid Mustangs in 2-0 Win to Split Series

BILLINGS-Elijah Gill struck out eight over 6.0 shutout innings and the Billings Mustangs took advantage of a critical Great Falls error to snag a 2-0 win over the Voyagers to secure a series split on Sunday.

Gill tied Billings' (3-3, 28-24) individual season high with the eight punchouts while shutting down Great Falls (3-3, 30-23) for a second time in the series in a game that took just 2 hours, 20 minutes to play.

The early innings featured little in the way of offense for either side. The biggest early threat came in the top of the first when Great Falls picked up a single and walk off Gill. However, Gill struck out the next two hitters to end the threat.

On the other side, Great Fall's Tanner Brown, making his professional debut, carved up the Mustangs the first time through the order, setting down the first eight hitters and striking out five over the first three innings.

The score remained 0-0 through the middle innings. Gill worked around two hits in the fourth and baserunners in the fifth and sixth innings. He finished off the sixth with his eighth strikeout.

With nothing doing through six, Gill returned for the seventh, but was lifted after a leadoff walk. Hunter DePrimo came on and retired the next three batters to send the game to the seventh inning stretch, still scoreless.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs mounted a rally against Joshua Gainer. After a strikeout to begin the inning, a single and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Jackson Raper came on to pinch hit as Montana Quigley entered to pitch for the Voyagers. Quigley struck out Raper for the second out before inducing a hot ground ball to short off the bat of Jordan Barth.

However, Barth's ground ball went right past Christopher DeGuzman at short for an error, scoring two runs to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.

Great Falls did not go down quietly, though, as a single and hit batter began the eighth inning. However, Beaux Bonvillain induced a strikeout and fielder's choice. Al Pesto then entered the game and had his second pitch ripped to deep right by pinch hitter Michael Deeb. Crews Taylor, though, ran it down to secure a scoreless eighth.

Pesto then tossed a scoreless ninth to finish off a 2-0 win, locking down his sixth save of the season in the process.

The Mustangs will have Monday off before beginning a six-game series against the Northern Colorado Owlz in Greeley, Colorado. Starters for both teams are still to be determined. Pregame on Tuesday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 3:40 ahead of a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.