Mustangs Pull Ahead Late, Hang On for 2-1 Win

KALISPELL-The Billings Mustangs pulled ahead on an eighth-inning home run from Jackson Raper and Kenny Serwa and four relievers combined to pull out a 2-1 win over the Glacier Range Riders on Saturday night at Flathead Field.

Billings (24-21) clinched a winning first half by earning their second one-run win of the series as they held Glacier (17-29) to six hits in the penultimate game of the first half.

In the top of the first inning, the Mustangs got things going right away. Jalen Garcia singled on the first pitch of the game, then stole second. Two batters later, Jacob Kline followed by rolling a single through the right side to score Garcia, putting Billings ahead 1-0.

The Mustangs had opportunities to build a bigger early lead but left multiple runners aboard in the first and third, while squandering a leadoff walk in the second.

However, Serwa had his best stuff early. After allowing a one-out single in the first, Serwa began mowing down Glacier hitters. In the third inning, Serwa came out strike away from an immaculate inning, though he settled for striking out the side, which gave him five straight punchouts.

Serwa began the fifth by retiring his 12^th straight hitter, but then ran into trouble. Livingston Morris dunked a one-out single into right, moved to second on an errant pickoff throw. Brenton Davis then lined a double to left-center, scoring Morris to tie the game at one.

The score stayed tied as Hunter DePrimo tag-teamed scoreless sixth and seventh innings. In the seventh, the Mustang defense kept the game tied. After a one out single, Morris doubled to deep center. However, Garcia fired to Mason Dinesen who made a perfect throw home to nail the lead runner. On the very next hitter, Bonvillain allowed a ground ball up the middle off the bat of Davis, but Kline made a diving stop to his right and threw out Davis at first to end the inning with the go ahead run at third.

In the eighth against Isaiah Henry, the Mustangs then pulled back ahead. With one out, Raper connected on a 1-2 pitch and deposited it over the right-field wall, putting the Mustangs up 2-1.

The Mustang bullpen did the rest. Foster Pace worked a scoreless eighth, navigating a one-out walk. In the ninth, Al Pesto worked a 1-2-3 inning, with the final out coming on a diving play by Bryce Jackson to first, nailing down the 2-1 win.

The Mustangs will finish off the seven-game series in Kalispell against the Glacier Range Riders as well as the first half of the season on Sunday. The Mustang starter is still to be determined, while Glacier will throw RHP Kevin Kyle (0-0, 10.29). Pregame on Sunday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 2:45 ahead of a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.