Mustangs Cool Off Vibes in 10-1 Rout

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO-The Billings Mustangs extended their winning streak to three games and brushed aside the Rocky Mountain Vibes 10-1 in the first meeting between the two teams this season on Wednesday afternoon at UC Health Park in Colorado Springs.

Billings (16-13) moved to three games over .500 for the first time since the second week of the season and started off the road trip on a big note as Rocky Mountain's (8-21) streak of four wins in five games came to a screeching halt.

In the top of the first, the Mustangs struck right away against Rocky Mountain starter Brett Erwin. Crews Taylor hit a drive into deep left-center that center fielder Cesar Lopez appeared to run down, but he dropped the ball for a two-base error. That immediately came back to haunt the Vibes as Jordan Hovey doubled to a similar spot, bringing in Taylor to stake the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead.

After a pair of scoreless innings from Billings starter Sean Kiley, the Mustangs struck off Erwin in the second. A leadoff walk and single put two on with no outs. The next hitters failed to bring in any runs, but Jackson Raper ripped a two-run double into the right field corner, scoring both men to give Billings a 3-0 lead.

The Billings offense continued to see Erwin well in the fourth as the Mustangs strung together four hits in the inning. With two on and one out, Mitch Piatnik sliced a double inside the left field line to score a run, then Taylor followed with an RBI single. A sacrifice fly from Hovey brought in one more, pushing the Billings lead to 6-0.

In the fifth, the Mustangs really put the Vibes in the rear-view mirror with three more runs. Jacob Kline doubled in a run for his first hit since coming off the injured list, then Jordan Barth stroked a single off the glove of first baseman Mike Annone. Another run came home in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Kline, bumping the lead to 10-0.

On the mound, Sean Kiley struck out just one, but walked only one and allowed just four hits, all singles. The right-hander twirled 6.0 shutout innings, extending his scoreless streak to 15.0 innings over four outings. Behind him, Kelvan Pilot and McLain Harris threw scoreless innings before Hunter DePrimo surrendered a solo homer with one out in the ninth, but nothing more as the Mustangs cruised to a 10-1 win.

The Mustangs will play game two in Colorado Springs on Thursday night against the Rocky Mountain Vibes. The Mustangs will throw LHP Darrien Ragins (1-1, 5.61) while Rocky Mountain counters with RHP Jorge Leo (1-0, 4.15). Pregame on Wednesday afternoon will begin at 6:10 ahead of a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.