Late Rallies Doom Mustangs in 11-7 Loss

COLORADO SPRINGS-The Rocky Mountain Vibes scored seven times in their final two at-bats and the Billings Mustangs failed to hold a pair of two-run leads as they fell 11-7 on Sunday evening at UC Health Park.

For the sixth time this season, Billings (18-15) lost a lead in the seventh inning or later, while Rocky Mountain (10-23) rallied for their sixth win in their last ten games.

Starters Greyson Fletcher for Rocky Mountain and Elijah Gill for the Mustangs traded scoreless innings for the first two frames. While Fletcher tossed a scoreless third, Gill blinked first in the bottom half of the frame. After a walk with one out, back-to-back singles brought in a run thanks to an RBI single from Ulysses Cantu.

However, the Mustangs answered back with a big fourth inning. Jacob Kline led off with a single and moved to second two batters later on a bunt single from Brian Parreira. Bryce Jackson then rolled a grounder through the right side to bring in Kline. Billings wasn't done, as Aidan Nagle added an RBI double. An error at third base then allowed Jackson to score, putting the Mustangs up 3-1.

That lead failed to survive the inning, though, as the Vibes answered against Gill. With runners on the corners and one out, Luis Navarro ripped a two-run double to right-center which tied the game. Josh Glenn brought in Navarro with a single center, giving the lead back to Rocky Mountain, 4-3.

The score stayed that way until the seventh when Jordan Hovey led off with a solo homer to right-center which tied the game. After a double from Kline and a walk, a pitching change brought in Seth Davis, who proceeded to retire two straight pinch hitters. With Jalen Garcia pinch-hitting, a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Garcia then lined a single to left-center that scored both runners, putting the Mustangs up 6-4.

But, it was not to be as the Vibes again immediately answered. Jack Goonan walked the leadoff man then allowed a single. Following a sacrifice bunt, a groundout brought in a run on the second out. However, a walk chased Goonan for Kelvan Pilot. On a 2-0 pitch, Mike Annone drove a ball over the head of Garcia in center which drove in two runs, putting the Vibes back in front. Another RBI single made it 8-6 Rocky Mountain.

Things got worse in the eighth as McClain Harris retired the first two hitters, but a bad-hop single extended the inning. Cesar Lopez then ripped an RBI double and Cantu put the finishing touches with a two-run homer.

Billings got a run back on a Brian Parreira double in the ninth, but failed to seriously threaten the Vibes, who won 11-7.

The final game of the series will take place on Monday, the 4^th of July in Colorado Springs. The Mustangs will send RHP Sean Kiley (2-0, 1.66) while Rocky Mountain counters with LHP Jaasiel Ochoa (0-1, 11.25). Pregame on Independence Day on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:10 ahead of a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.