The Billings Mustangs (43-14) dropped the opener of a three-game series to the Missoula PaddleHeads on Friday night, falling 9-7 at Allegiance Field.

Michael Soper gave Billings an early lead with a solo homer in the third inning, his 10th of the season.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as the PaddleHeads erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third to take control.

Patrick Mills answered with a two-run blast in the fourth inning, his tenth of the season and his second in as many games, trimming the deficit to 6-3.

The two clubs traded runs over the next two innings. Missoula scored twice in the bottom of the fourth before the Mustangs answered in the fifth with RBI singles from Cameron Bowen and Soper to pull the score to 8-5.

The PaddleHeads added another run in the bottom of the fifth before A.J. Shaver drove home two with a double in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 9-7.

Neither team scored over the final three innings.

Former Mustang Ritter Steinmann (1-1) earned the victory with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, while Matthew Taubensee recorded the final four outs for the save. Cole Calnon (6-2) was charged with the loss for Billings.

The Mustangs have now dropped three of their last four games and are 1-3 on their current six-game road trip.

Billings will look to even the series on Saturday night as right-hander True McEvoy is scheduled to start. First pitch from Allegiance Field is set for 6:35 p.m.