Mustangs Win 7-4 over Osprey in Final Meeting of Season
August 31, 2018 - Pioneer League (PL)
Billings Mustangs News Release
MISSOULA, Montana - The Billings Mustangs (21-11, 36-34) clinched the series over the Missoula Osprey (16-15, 35-34) with a 7-4 win on Friday in front of 2,347 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
The Mustangs struck for a run in the first to take an early advantage. Mariel Bautista singled with two outs to start a string of three straight two-out reaches for the run. With men at first and second, Drew Mount's sharp grounder to short was not fielded cleanly by Brandon Leyton, allowing Bautista to advance two bases and get the Mustangs a quick 1-0 lead. Bautista's single extended his hitting streak to 21 games, the longest hitting streak in the Pioneer League this season.
The Osprey brought in three runs in the bottom of the first to retaliate and take their first lead. Eddie Hernandez doubled in two runs and a third was brought in on a fielder's choice. The Osprey would hold a lead from the first to the top of the seventh.
Ricardo Smith (3-5) matched his season-high with six innings of work, giving up four unearned runs on six hits, whiling striking out six, also tying a season-high. He was on the hook for the loss when exiting the game before a big seventh-inning rally from Billings.
Trailing 4-3 into the top of the seventh, the Mustangs rallied for four runs on four hits to take their first lead since the first. Drew Mount and Dylan Harris each singled in a run and two wild pitches would help bring in another pair to give the Mustangs a 7-4 lead.
Ryan Campbell and Jesse Stallings then combined to throw three shutout innings out of the bullpen. Stallings would throw a perfect ninth to collect his first save in the Pioneer League this season.
The Mustangs have now won five of their last six games and take the series, 3-1 over Missoula. Their road trip continues as they head to Great Falls for a three-game series against the Voyagers. First pitch on Saturday at Centene Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.
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