Mustangs Finish Perfect Homestand with 8-2 Win over Glacier

BILLINGS- The Billings Mustangs barely beat a thunderstorm, but handily beat the Glacier Range Riders on Sunday afternoon at Dehler Park, winning 8-2 for the Mustangs' seventh straight win.

The Mustangs used five pitchers to hold Glacier to just six hits, finishing off a five-game sweep in the first-ever meeting between the two squads while winning seven straight contests for the first time in over 15 years.

Mustang starter Sean Kiley and Glacier hurler Noah Barros both traded zeroes for the first two innings. However, Kiley blinked first, as Ryan Cash lined a solo home run to right in the third, putting Glacier up 1-0.

Kiley gave way to Foster Pace in the fourth who retired the first man he faced. However, Dean Miller turned on a pitch from Pace and lined it over the left field wall for a solo shot of his own, doubling the lead to 2-0.

However, the Mustangs found their offense later than inning. With two outs, Brian Parriera roped a double into the right field corner to score Gabe Wurtz for the first Mustang run of the game.

An inning later, Billings pulled ahead. After loading the bases on three straight one-out singles, Wurtz hit a slow roller to short that scored a run. One pitch later, Nick Ultsch sliced a ball into left-center that scored two runs, putting the Mustangs ahead 4-2 on the double.

Beaux Bonvillain and Jack Goonan held the fort through the seventh inning stretch, after which the Mustangs put the game out of reach.

Jalen Garcia led off the bottom of the seventh and greeted reliever Luke Laurita by depositing his first pitch over the wall in left-center for Garcia's first home run of the season. Later on in the frame, Jacob Kline added an RBI double, as did Tristan Peterson as a pinch hitter, extending the lead to 7-2.

Billings added one more run in the eighth as two singles led to a sacrifice fly from Raper, creating the final score of 8-2, Billings.

The Mustangs held Glacier off the board for the final five innings of the contest to close out the first 7-0 homestand in Dehler Park history, as well as give the Mustangs their longest winning streak since 2006.

Kiley went 3.0 innings, allowing a run on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts in his first start. Pace (1-0) tossed 2.0 innings, allowing a run on one hits and three strikeouts to earn the win. Bonvillain struck out three and allowed one hit in 1.1 innings, while Goonan followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout. Kenny Stewart navigated around a hit, a walk, and a wild pitch in a scoreless ninth.

The Mustangs will have Monday and Tuesday off before heading to Missoula for the first three games of a home-and-home series. RHP Kelvan Pilot (1-1, 2.61) will get the ball for the Mustangs and LHP Jason Munsch (1-1, 12.57) will start for Missoula Pregame Wednesday will begin at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN 910/105.5 with Brennan Mense on the call ahead of a 7:05 first pitch in Missoula.