Mustangs Stung By Late Longballs, Strikeouts, in 3-2 Loss

KALISPELL-Glacier's Dean Miller homered twice, lifting the Glacier Range Riders to a 3-2 win over the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday night at Flathead Field in Kalispell.

Billings (22-19) left a season-high 13 runners on base and also struck out a season-high 15 times against a Glacier (15-27) staff that has allowed only three runs over the first two games of the series.

After both starters faced the minimum in the first inning, the Mustangs scored a run in the second. After a leadoff walk to Jackson Raper, a single moved him to second. After a balk advanced both runners, a wild pitch uncorked by starter Kevin Kyle gave Billings their first run.

On the other side, Mustang starter Kenny Serwa, who was making his professional debut, was excellent early on. The right-hander set down the first 11 batters and encountered little trouble in his first four innings.

In the fifth, though he allowed a single and walk to put two on with nobody out. After a flyout, another flyout appeared to be the second out. However, a catcher's interference negated the play and instead loaded the bases with no outs as the batter was awarded first. However, Serwa buckled down, striking out Brandy Broussard and inducing a pop-up from Ben McConnell to keep the 1-0 lead

In the sixth, the Mustangs were able to expand the lead. After a leadoff walk to Gabe Wurtz, Kline doubled to left-center. However, Wurtz was thrown out at the plate, though Kline advanced to third. Kline then came home on a groundout from Bryce Jackson to double the lead to 2-0.

However, the lead did not survive the inning. Hunter DePrimo entered the game for Serwa in the sixth and retired the first two hitters. After a two-out walk, though, Dean Miller rifled a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer that tied the game.

The Mustangs had a chance to re-gain the lead as they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Kline struck out to end the threat.

In the eighth, Al Pesto came on for the Mustangs and struck out the first two batters. On a 2-2 pitch, though, Miller struck again, lining a shot just over the wall in right-center to give Glacier a 3-2 lead.

In the ninth, Billings got a leadoff single from Aidan Nagle, but the next three hitters were rung up, ending the game with a painful one-run loss.

The Mustangs will play game three in Kalispell against the Glacier Range Riders on Tuesday. LHP Elijah Gill (1-0, 2.89) will start for the Mustangs, while Glacier counters with RHP Austin Edwards (0-3, 8.25). Pregame on Wednesday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:45 ahead of a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.