Pilot's Strong Start Not Enough as Mustangs Fall 3-2 to Glacier

KALISPELL-The Billings Mustangs got 6.0 excellent innings from Kelvan Pilot in his return to the rotation, but the Glacier Range Riders scored in the final two innings to snag a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night at Flathead Field in Kalispell.

Glacier (16-27) secured their third win in a row as Billings' (22-20) offense was quieted for a third straight game to open the series.

The Mustangs got off to a strong start against Glacier starter Austin Edwards. On the first pitch of the game, Jalen Garcia lined a triple to right-center. Two batters later he came home on a fielder's choice to stake Billings to a 1-0 lead.

An inning later, the Mustangs added one more. With two outs and the bases clear, Jordan Barth attacked a 1-1 fastball above the belt and blasted it over the left-field wall for his second home run of the season, putting Billings up 2-0.

In the third, though, Glacier had an answer against Pilot. First, Pilot failed to tag first base on an attempted 3-1 groundout, allowing Brian Williams to reach on what was ruled an error. Pilot then balked Williams to second before uncorking a wild pitch to move him an additional 90 feet. A groundout by Ben McConnell brought in Williams to trim the lead to 2-1.

Pilot settled down from there, though, working around baserunners in the fourth and fifth. In the sixth, he faced his toughest test with two on and two outs. However, catcher Brian Parreira threw behind Dean Miller at first and Barth tagged out Miller in a rundown, ending the inning.

Pilot returned to the mound in the seventh but issued a leadoff walk on his 99^th pitch of the night. He was lifted for Foster Pace, who set down the next three hitters to hold the lead. Pilot struck out a season-high eight over 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one unearned run.

In the eighth, though, things changed. After a flyout to begin the inning, an error and single put runners on the corners with one out in the eighth. Pace was lifted for Al Pesto, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Brody Wofford on the first pitch of his outing, tying the game at two.

In the ninth, Glacier broke the Mustang hearts again. A misplay in the outfield led to a flyball dropping for a leadoff double. Following an intentional walk, a sac bunt turned into a hit as no one covered first base. With the bases loaded and no outs, a hot shot on the infield was misplayed for an error, bringing home the winning run in a 3-2 defeat for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs will play the middle game of the seven-game series in Kalispell against the Glacier Range Riders on Thursday. The Mustang starter is still to be determined, while Glacier will throw RHP Logan Van Wey (2-2, 6.55). Pregame on Thursday 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.