Mustangs Win Series in Idaho Falls With 11-3 Triumph

IDAHO FALLS-The Billings Mustangs pounded out 16 hits and continually turned back Idaho Falls offensive threats to defeat the Chukars 11-3 on Sunday afternoon at Melaleuca Field, securing a series victory for the Mustangs.

Billings (12-12, 37-33) overcame 20 strikeouts from their offense—their most in a game since 2010—in part by stranding 13 Idaho Falls (13-11, 40-32) runners in the 3-hour, 42-minute marathon. Ethan McRae earned his first Mustangs win and Brian Parreira collected the first four-hit game of his career.

The afternoon began with a busy first inning. After a leadoff double from Crews Taylor, two strikeouts left Idaho Falls starter Jake Binder one out from a scoreless inning. Instead, Jackson Raper doubled in a run, Andrew Fernandez singled him in, then a double and two walks brought in a run as Bryce Jackson took a free pass with the bases loaded. Jordan Barth topped off the rally with a two-run single, chasing Binder and staking Billings to a 5-0 lead.

Idaho Falls then fought back against Ethan McRae in the first, stringing together four straight one-out singles to score twice, though the Mustang lefty struck out the next two batters to end the inning with Billings ahead 5-2.

The Mustangs then mounted another two-out rally in the second against reliever Alex Fishberg. After two strikeouts began the inning, Raper walked and came all the way around when Fernandez yanked a 3-2 fastball into the left field corner for an RBI double. Brian Parreira followed with a single to right to bring in Fernandez, pushing the lead back to five runs.

In the third, the Chukars got one back. Two singles put runners on the corners with no outs for DeBonville, who picked up his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center.

Fishberg settled in and struck out nine Mustangs over 3.1 innings in relief, including six in a row. However, Luke Laurita relieved him in the fifth and the Mustangs took advantage. Parreira reached on an infield single, his third hit of the day, and Jacob Kline unloaded on a 1-0 fastball for a 424-foot home run to right-center field, putting Billings ahead 9-3.

An inning later, Billings reached double digits. Taylor led off with a single and stole second. With one out, Gabe Wurtz hopped on a first-pitch fastball and roped it into right-center for an RBI single, putting the Mustangs ahead 10-3.

The game soon passed into the hands of the Billings bullpen as McRae was lifted following a leadoff single in the sixth. McLain Harris allowed a second single, but stranded two runners in a scoreless sixth. He repeated the feat an inning later by stranding two runners in a scoreless seventh. Harris and Darrien Ragins then tag-teamed on a scoreless eighth.

In the ninth, Jackson provided one more for the road with a solo homer, his third of the season. In the bottom of the inning, Idaho Falls loaded the bases with one out, but Foster Pace retired the last two hitters, nailing down an 11-3 win.

The Mustangs will have Monday off before travelling to Great Falls for three games beginning Tuesday. Starters for both teams are still to be determined. Pregame on Tuesday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:40 ahead of a 7:00 p.m. first pitch.