Mustangs Let Big Lead Slip Away in 10-7 Loss in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS-The Billings Mustangs let a 7-0 lead slip away as the Great Falls Voyagers came back to defeat the Mustangs 10-7 on Thursday night at Centene Stadium.

Billings (14-13, 39-34) was looking to finish off an 11-game road trip with a six-game winning streak, but instead saw a five-game streak come to an end as the trip ended at 6-5. Great Falls (14-13, 41-33) snapped a five-game skid and was able to avoid being swept on their home field.

The Mustangs began the contest in style with a big first inning. After two singles and a double steal put runners at second and third with one out, an error let in the first run of the night. That proved to be huge as the Mustangs added a two-out onslaught. Abraham Mow blooped a single just inside the right-field line to score a second run, then Jordan Hovey lined a full-count offering just over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, his second in as many days. Billings led 5-0 on his sixth home run of the season.

In the second, the Mustangs added another two-out run. A walk and single with two outs set the table for Andrew Fernandez, who roped a 3-1 fastball into left field for an RBI single, putting the Mustangs ahead 6-0.

Another run came home courtesy of Hovey in the third. After drawing a one-out walk, Hovey swiped second and scampered to third when the throw down sailed into center field. Two batters later, he came home on a fielder's choice, putting the Mustangs ahead 7-0.

Great Falls got to Mustang starter Elijah Gill with two outs in third. After retiring the first two men of the inning, Collin Runge swatted a first pitch fastball from the Billings left-hander high off an advertisement above the left-field wall for a solo homer, making the score 7-1, Mustangs.

In the fifth, the Voyagers drew another run closer. A leadoff walk and infield single put two on with two out for Riley Jepson, who stroked the first pitch he saw into right-center for an RBI single, trimming another run off the deficit. However, Gill, induced a flyout to end the inning.

In the sixth, he allowed a leadoff single, but retired the next three hitters, including the final two on strikeouts, giving him a season-high nine punchouts over 6.0 innings of two-run ball.

In the seventh, Gill departed and things went south from there. Two singles began the inning against McLain Harris, who then induced a 5-4-3 double play. Riley Jepson began a two-out onslaught with an RBI single just past Jacob Kline at second. Chris Monroe followed with a double to deep center, closing the gap to 7-4 and chasing Harris.

Darrien Ragins then entered and sandwiched two walks around a hit batter, which brought in another run. He departed without recording an out and handed a bases-loaded jam to Hunter DePrimo, who promptly hit a batter, bringing in another run. Myles McKisic then followed with his second hit of the inning, a two-run single up the middle, which capped off a six-run seventh by giving Great Falls an 8-7 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, things got worse. The first five hitters of the inning reached with two more runners scoring. DePrimo buckled down and retired the next three to leave the bases loaded, but the damage was done.

After recording the last two outs of the eighth, Montana Quigley tossed a scoreless ninth to secure a 10-7 victory for Great Falls.

The Mustangs will return home to take on Great Falls on Friday night at Dehler Park. It will be the Mustangs baseball card giveaway as the first 500 fans will receive a 2022 Mustangs team card set. Billings' starter is to be determined while Great Falls counters with LHP Tyler Naumann (4-5, 5.63). Pregame on Friday 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.