AA Lakers clip Billings, 16-8

BILLINGS — The AA Lakers found some offense against the Billings Royals after back to back shutouts in a 16-8 win on Saturday.

Billings scored a couple of early runs but the Lakers pulled ahead in the fourth inning, where they scored five runs, and didn’t let off the gas.

In the fourth, the Lakers got runs off a stolen base and an error, and a Haiden Bunyea single drove in two runs.

A seven-run ninth inning included walks by Lakers Gage Brink and Grady Drish and a fielder’s choice by Oscar Kallis.

Kostya Hoffman score four runs and had four hits, Ostyn Brennan scored three runs and had one hit, and Kallis had two hits and two runs.

Lakers pitcher Nic Gustavson struck out six batters while allowing four runs on six hits through six innings.

Lakers AA 001 530 007 — 16 15 1

Billings Royals 200 001 113 — 8 9 4

Nic Gustavson, Fletcher Postlewait (7). Davis Mosler, Sy Waldron (4), Adam Johnson (5), Austin Schaaf (9).

KALISPELL LAKERS — Ostyn Brennan 1-5, Kostya Hoffman 4-6, Gage Brink 1-4, Haiden Bunyea 2-6, Oscar Kallis 2-4, Max Holden 2-4, James Moody 1-6, Elijah Owens 1-4, Grady Drish 2-4.

Bubba Bergen 1-2, Bryce LaForest 2-3, Owen Doucette 0-4, Jessen West 2-4, Jaiden Turner 0-3, Kayden Keith 1-4, Nathan Kojetin 0-2, Hunter Eliason 0-1, Reagan Walker 0-1, Davis Mosier 3-6, Lance Schaaf 0-3, Eli Nickis 0-0.

2B — Hoffman, Kallis, Mosier 2. RBI — Brennan 2, Brink, Bunyea 2, Trish, Holden 2, Kallis 2, Moody, Mosier 2, Eliason, West 2, Keith.