Wednesday: Mustangs shut out Range Riders

BILLINGS — Gabe Wurtz hit a two-run homer and Kelvan Pilot threw six shutout innings as the Billings Mustangs blanked Glacier 8-0 in a Pioneer League baseball game Wednesday at Dehler Park.

Wertz’ home run, his fourth in three home games this season, gave Billings (3-3) the lead for good in the second inning. The Mustangs led 3-0 after two innings and 6-0 after four.

In the seventh, Jackson Raper and Mitch Piatnik hit RBI triples for the game’s final runs.

Pilot allowed four hits and four walks and struck out seven Range Riders. Glacier’s best chance came when the first two batters reached to lead off the fifth. Pilot proceeded to fan the next three hitters.

Al Pesto allowed one hit and one walk over the final three innings for Billings.

Five different Range Riders (5-2) got hits. Gabe Howell, the PL Player of the Week, went 0-for-2 with two walks. Andrew Stewart took the loss, going three innings. Luke Laurita threw three shutout innings in relief.

The two teams battle again Thursday, at 6:35 p.m. — the second of a five-game set.

Glacier 000 000 000 - 0 5 1

Billings 030 300 20x - 8 10 2

Andrew Stout, Austin Steinford (4), Luke Laurita (6) and Jared Fry. Kelvan Pilot, Al Pesto (7) and Brian Parreira.

GLACIER — Ben McConnell 1-4, Gabe Howell 0-2, Brody Wofford 1-4, Dean Miller 1-3, Tyler Ryan 0-3, Felix Aberouette 0-1, Jared Fry 1-4, Michael Knell 0-2, Ryan Cash 1-3, Kevin Jordan 0-1, Brandt Broussard 0-3.

BILLINGS — Crews Taylor 1-5, Mitch Piatnik 1-4, Jalen Garcia 1-4, Jackson Raper 1-3, Gabe Wurtz 1-4, Jacob Kline 2-2, Tristan Peterson 1-3, Brian Parreira 2-4, Christian Pena 0-3.

2B — Parreira. 3B — Raper, Kline. HR — Wurtz. RBIs — Wurtz 2, Kline, Piatnik, Raper, Parreira, Pena.