Mustangs Fall 8-4 in Regular Season Finale

BILLINGS-The 2022 Pioneer League regular season came to an end as the Idaho Falls Chukars scored four runs in the final two innings to break a tie, taking an 8-4 victory over the Billings Mustangs on Saturday afternoon at Dehler Park.

Idaho Falls finishes the season at 48-48 as they finished their season on high note. Billings, meanwhile, finishes at 53-41, the third-best record in the Pioneer League, though their seven-game winning streak was snapped.

In the first inning, Mustangs starter Joey Lara worked out of a bases-loaded jam, but he ran into more trouble in the second. After a leadoff single, a wild pitch and ground out set the stage for Damani Thomas, who lofted a sacrifice fly.  

However, Lara proceeded to walk the next three hitters to load the bases. He was then lifted for Jack Cunningham, who struck out Webb Little, leaving the bases full of Chukars for the second straight inning. Idaho Falls, though, led 1-0.

In the third, though, Cunningham was touched up by the Chukars. With two outs, Hunter Hudson doubled in a run, then came home on a Damani Thomas single. Another single sent Thomas to third. However, a throw from center skipped into the dugout, allowing Thomas to score, making it 4-0, Chukars.

Billings, though, had an answer. After leadoff singles from Jalen Garcia and Crews Taylor, Juan Teixeira lined a 3-0 pitch into the left field corner for a two-run double, which cut the deficit in half. After a balk, Jacob Kline dropped a bloop single to center to score Teixeira. Two more singles then loaded the bases for Abraham Mow, who reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game.

From there, the pitching took over. Cunningham threw a scoreless fourth before giving way to Byron Smith, Kelvan Pilot, and Foster Pace, all of whom threw a scoreless frame.

On the other side, Logan Bender entered in the fourth for Idaho Falls and held the Mustangs hitless over three scoreless frames. Keagan McGinnis also added a scoreless seventh.

In the eighth, Zach Penrod came on for Billings and walked the first two batters. A single then loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder's choice allowed the Mustangs to get a forceout at the plate for the first out. After a pitching change brought in McLain Harris, the right-hander threw a low curveball that skipped past Andrew Fernandez for a wild pitch, which brought in Tyler Wyatt to put Idaho Falls ahead 5-4.

In the ninth, Idaho Falls added three more with two outs. Hudson doubled home a run with a shot off the left-field wall. After a single, Steve Barmakian tripled off the top of the wall in right-center, bringing in two more runs to make it a four-run game.

Jonathan Nunnally Jr. then came in and capped off the campaign for the Chukars with a scoreless ninth to finish off an 8-4 Chukars win.

The Mustangs will have Sunday off before opening the postseason against the Missoula Paddleheads on Monday night at Dehler Park. Tickets are on sale online and at the Dehler Park box office for the game. Billings will start RHP Kenny Serwa (5-2, 2.44) while Missoula will counter with RHP Domingo Pena (6-4, 5.17) Pregame on Monday 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.