Owlz' Crosby Hits For the Cycle as Mustangs Fall 6-3

GREELEY-The Billings Mustangs pounded out 12 hits, but fell 6-3 to the Northern Colorado Owlz as NoCo's Brandon Crosby hit for the cycle to lead the Owlz as they evened up the series.

Billings (4-4, 29-25) stranded 12 baserunners and fell victim to some bad luck on batted balls as well as mistakes on the basepaths as their three-game winning streak came to an end. Northern Colorado (3-4, 20-32) earned their first win in four tries against the Mustangs this season.

After leaving two men on in the first, the Mustangs took the lead against Tanner Schoeninger in the second inning. With one out, Andrew Fernandez lined an 0-2 fastball over the left-field wall, picking up his first home run in just the second at-bat of his professional career. However the Mustangs' bid for more ended as Jalen Garcia lined to left with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Owlz then immediately responded. After a leadoff single, Brandon Crosby tripled to right-center to tie the game. One pitch later, Euro Diaz singled through the left side to bring in a second run, staking the Owlz to a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth, the Mustangs again picked up a single run. Jordan Barth and Crews Taylor stroked one-out singles to put runners on the corners for Jordan Hovey. On a 3-1 offering, Hovey lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Barth to tie the game.

However, Northern Colorado immediately responded again. The first three batters all stroked base hits, with Kevin Higgins driving in a run with a single. Diaz followed with a lineout to left which was plenty deep to score Higgins to make it 4-2 Owlz.

The Mustangs put together a rally in the fifth inning. Garcia singled and Jackson Raper doubled to put two on with no outs. Gabe Wurtz followed with a single to center, cutting the deficit to one. However, the Mustangs made a pair of baserunning mistakes, as Wurtz was thrown out trying to advance to second. Raper then was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice and the Mustangs would not score further in the inning.

In the sixth, the Owlz answered back yet again. With one out, Crosby hit a low line drive that just cleared the left field wall for a solo home run, restoring the two-run advantage. In the eighth, Crosby completed his cycle, as he doubled to left-center to bring in an insurance run, giving NoCo a 6-3 lead.

The Mustangs brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Brian Parreira lined out sharply to right with two men on to end the game.

The Mustangs will play game three in Greeley against the Northern Colorado on Thursday afternoon. Billings will start LHP Patrick Maybach (0-1, 14.29), while the Owlz counter with RHP Preston Snavely (0-2, 5.21). Wednesday on Thursday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 3:45 ahead of a 4:05 p.m. first pitch.