Mustangs Finish Home Sweep with 4-3 Win Over Great Falls

BILLINGS-The Billings Mustangs broke a tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base to finish off a 4-3 victory over Great Falls to sweep the home portion of the series against the Voyagers on Sunday at Dehler Park.

Billings (17-13, 42-34) won their third straight and finished off a series of five wins in six games over Great Falls (14-16, 41-36).

After a 1-2-3 first inning from Ethan McRae, the Mustangs had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the first. An error, walk, and sacrifice put two men in scoring position with one out. After a strikeout, a walk loaded the bases for Jacob Kline, Great Falls starter Tanner Brown struck him on the tenth pitch of the at-bat, wiggling out of the jam with no damage.

In the second, Great Falls took the lead. A one-out single, error, and a groundout put a man at third base with two outs. Collin Runge was jammed on a 2-2 pitch, but dumped a bloop single into right field, putting the Voyagers ahead 1-0.

The Mustangs, though had an answer right back. A walk and single put two on for Jackson Raper who laid down a bunt towards third. Runge fielded the ball and fired towards first, but it was left unoccupied and the throw sailed into the stands. A run scored on the play. A groundout brought in a second run before Jacob Kline lined a triple to left-center to plate a third run, putting Billings ahead 3-1.

In the fourth, Great Falls responded. A walk and single began the inning. After a flyout, Jake Malec singled to left. Gabe Wurtz came up firing and made a perfect throw home, but Michael Deeb was ruled to have slid in just ahead of the tag, cutting the Mustang lead to one. Two batters later, Aaron Simmons hit a sinking liner to center, but Crews Taylor laid out for a diving catch to end the inning and preserve a 3-2 lead.

After a one-out single in the fifth, McRae was lifted for Jack Cunningham, who recorded the final two outs of the first before throwing a 1-2-3 sixth. In the seventh, though, Cunningham allowed a single and walk before being lifted for McLain Harris. Harris was up the to task, though, striking out Riley Jepson, Chris Monroe, and Deeb in succession, keeping the one-run lead.

In the eighth, Harris retired the first batter, but left a 1-0 curve up for Christopher De Guzman, who deposited it over the right field wall for a solo home run, tying the game at three apiece.

In the bottom of the eighth, though, the Mustangs responded with the deciding rally. A walk and single against Brad Demco put runners on the corners with no outs. Fernandez lifted a fly ball to right field that scored pinch runner Burle Dixon, putting the Mustangs up 4-3.

In the ninth, Harris recorded the first out to Beaux Bonvillain, who allowed a pair of two-out singles to put the tying run in scoring position. However, he induced a flyout from pinch-hitter Breydon Daniel to end the game with a 4-3 win.

The Mustangs will have Monday off before beginning a six-game series against the Missoula Paddleheads on Tuesday night at Dehler Park. Starters for both teams are still to be ddetermined. Pregame on Tuesday 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.