Mustangs Furious Rally Falls Just Short in 6-5 Loss

GREELEY-The Mustangs hit three home runs in the final two innings and rallied furiously in the ninth, but the Northern Colorado Owlz hung on for a 6-5 win over the Mustangs on Friday afternoon at Jackson Field in Greeley, Colorado.

Northern Colorado (4-4, 21-32) held the Mustangs scoreless over the first seven innings, while Billings (4-5, 29-26) tied their season high for home runs, but did little offensively otherwise in their second straight setback.

Both teams had early opportunities with first-inning doubles, but starters Patrick Maybach and Kida De La Cruz worked around them to put up zeroes. Maybach also successfully worked around runners at second and third in the second.

However, Northern Colorado struck first in the third inning. With two on and two outs, Matthew Turner blasted a drive over the head of center fielder Jalen Garcia for a two-run triple, which staked the Owlz to a 2-0 lead.

In the meantime, the Mustangs struggled to get to De La Cruz. Crews Taylor doubled on the first pitch of the game, but the righty quickly locked in and shut down the Billings offense. He struck out eight over the five innings and set down 15 of the next 16 Mustangs following the leadoff double.

In the bottom of the fifth, the game was delayed for 33 minutes due to lightning with two outs and a runner on second. Maybach returned after the delay, but following an intentional walk, he allowed a single to Euro Diaz, scoring a run to push NoCo's lead to 3-0.

De La Cruz did not return after the delay, but the Mustangs could not take advantage against the NoCo bullpen. Billings put two on for the first time in the game, but failed to push across the run. After allowing seven runs on Tuesday, Kyle Adkins threw a 1-2-3 seventh on just five pitches.

In the eighth, the Mustangs finally broke through. With one, Jordan Barth pinch hit for Mason Dinesen and ripped a 1-2 line drive over the left field fence for a solo home run. Two batters later, Jacob Kline connected on a first pitch fastball and deposited it over the wall in left-center. The Owlz lead was now down to 3-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, though, the Owlz provided the knockout blow. With two on and two out, McLain Harris was lifted for Darrien Ragins. However, Ragins hit Alex Jackson to load the bases. Brandon Crosby provided the deciding blow, ripping a two-run double into the left-field corner. A wild pitch brought in a third run to put the Owlz up 6-2.

Those runs proved to be critical as the Mustangs mounted their last-ditch rally in the ninth. Jackson Raper and Gabe Wurtz led off with singles before Andrew Fernandez launched a three-run homer to bring the Mustangs back within one. Bryce Jackson then drew a walk, but while a wild pitch moved the tying run in scoring position, the next three Mustangs went down, and the Owlz held on for a 6-5 win.

The Mustangs will play a doubleheader in Greeley against the Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon. Billings will start RHP Sean Kiley (3-1, 4.55) and Elijah Gill (2-0, 2.35), while the Owlz counter with RHP Preston Snavely (0-2, 5.21) and LHP Colton Williams (1-2, 6.11). Pregame 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 for game one with the second contest to follow 30 minutes following game one.