Mustangs Hit Two Homers, But Fall 9-4 to Great Falls

BILLINGS-The Great Falls Voyagers scored four runs to break a fifth-inning tie and held off the Billings Mustangs 9-4 on Wednesday night at Dehler Park.

Billings (1-1, 26-22) hit a pair of home runs, but struggled to put together any other offense as the Mustangs left 12 runners on base. Great Falls (1-1, 28-21) evened the series at one win apiece.

Mustang starter Kelvan Pilot ran into trouble right away, as Great Falls loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning. Pilot, though, buckled down with a strikeout before starting a 1-2-3 double play to escape with no damage.

In the bottom of the first, Billings took advantage to take the lead. With two outs and a man aboard, Jackson Raper jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Breonn Pooler and lined it just over the wall in right for a two-run homer. His tenth home run put the Mustangs up 2-0.

However, Pilot could not work out of trouble in the second. Great Falls struck for three runs on four hits in the inning. In the process, the Voyagers took the lead, 3-2.

The Mustangs stranded two on in the third, but in the fourth Billings would push across the equalizer. With one out, Brian Parreira turned around a 1-0 fastball from Pooler and lined it over the wall in right-center field, tying the game at three apiece.

In the fourth, though, Great Falls again put together a big inning. Following a single and a walk, Pilot was pulled with two on and two out. Darrien Ragins then entered and failed to record an out, as he allowed three singles and a walk to the four men he faced. McLain Harris was able to put out the fire by inducing a 5-4-3 twin killing, but the damage was done, as Great Falls scored four times to take a 7-3 lead.

The Mustangs had an opportunity to cut into the deficit as a walk and a double put two on with one out in the sixth. After a strikeout, a walk loaded the bases for Crews Taylor. However, Great Falls reliever Joshua Gainer struck out Taylor to end the threat and keep the Voyagers in front.

The next inning, Billings did draw closer. Jordan Hovey singled to lead off the inning before Gainer retired the next two batters. However, a throwing error kept the inning alive. Bryce Jackson took advantage, roping an RBI single to right, scoring Hovey to cut the deficit to 7-4.

However, the Voyagers struck back in the eighth against Hunter DePrimo. The Mustang right-hander retired the first two hitters of the inning, but Lukas Polanco jumped on a first pitch fastball and ripped it over the left field wall to put Great Falls back in front 8-4.

After the Mustangs left a couple more on base in the eighth, Great Falls tacked on one more insurance run on a Collin Runge RBI triple to cap off a 9-4 win.

The Mustangs will play game three against the Great Falls Voyagers on Thursday night. Billings will start RHP Kenny Serwa (0-0, 0.90) while Great Falls will throw LHP Quincy Jones (4-2, 6.95). Pregame on Wednesday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:15 ahead of a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.