Mustangs Jump Ahead Early, Pull Away Late for 10-6 Win

BILLINGS-Brian Parreira drove in four runs, Gabe Wurtz homered, and the Billings Mustangs scored six runs early and pulled away late to defeat the Great Falls Voyagers 10-6 on Saturday night in front of 2,804 at Dehler Park.

Billings (16-13, 41-34) moved to a season-high seven games over .500 by winning four out of the first five against Great Falls (14-15, 41-35), who for the third time in the series fell behind by five or more runs early and could not come back.

Both teams got things going early with a very busy first inning. Great Falls struck first against Mustang starter Kelvan Pilot. Great Falls loaded the bases on two infield singles and a walk to begin the game, scoring one run on a fielder's choice and another on a two-out single from Michael Deeb.

The Mustangs answered with a vengeance against Voyagers starter Andrew Garcia, though. In the first, the Mustangs stroked four hits, with Parreira singling in his first two runs and Bryce Jackson adding an RBI hit of his own.

In the second, the Mustangs added on. Garcia struggled finding the plate, walking three batters in the inning, including a free pass to Andrew Fernandez with the bases loaded. Parreira followed by pulling the first pitch through the right side, bringing two more runs to put the Mustangs ahead 6-2.

After a five-pitch third inning from Pilot, Billings added another in the bottom of the frame. Burle Dixon reached on an error with one out and stole second. One pitch later, Crews Taylor sliced an RBI double down the left field line to plate Dixon, putting Billings ahead 7-2.

In the fourth, Great Falls got a run back. Michael Deeb led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Christopher DeGuzman then lined a double to left which brought in Deeb, trimming the deficit to 7-3. Billings had a chance to get the run back immediately, but Parreira was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

In the fifth, Great Falls chased Pilot with another rally. Two walks and a one-out single by Derek Kolbush brought in a run and knocked out the Mustang starter. Hunter DePrimo entered and allowed an RBI single to Deeb on his first hitter, but retired the next two men to preserve the lead, which was now 7-5.

The Voyagers mounted another threat in the sixth, putting two on with one out, sending DePrimo to the showers. Foster Pace entered and induced a line drive off the bat of Riley Jepson. However, Jordan Hovey snagged the liner at second and fired to Jordan Barth covering the bag to double off Collin Runge, ending the threat.

After Pace threw a 1-2-3 seventh, Billings extended the lead against Connor Spear. Fernandez led off with an infield single and moved to second on a groundout. With two out, Barth attached a first-pitch fastball and lined an RBI single to center, putting Billings ahead 8-5.

In the eighth, Great Falls got a run back. With one out, Lukas Polanco blasted a solo home run to deep left center, cutting the deficit to 8-6. Beaux Bonvillain then came on and struck out Breydon Daniel to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, the Mustangs picked up a pair of insurance runs. With one out, Hovey doubled into the right field corner off Montana Quigley. One pitch later, Gabe  Wurtz blasted a laser over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, doubling the lead on his 19^th home run of the season.

With a 10-6 lead, Bonvillain allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but struck out the next three hitters to nail down his seventh save of the year, his fourth of the series.

The Mustangs will finish the series against Great Falls on Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow will be the Mustangs annual Candy Drop for children ages 3-12. Billings will start LHP Ethan McRae (1-1, 6.30) while Great Falls counters with LHP Tanner Brown (0-0, 5.79). Pregame on Sunday 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.