Riders complete sweep of Mustangs Saturday
BILLINGS — Gabe Howell homered for the third straight game and drove in five runs, and the Glacier Range Riders completed a three-game sweep of Billings with a 13-2 in Saturday at Dehler Park.
Jackson Raper hit a 2-run homer in the first inning as the Range Riders (25-15) took the lead for good. Ben McConnell added an RBI double in the second inning, and after Connor Denning homered to bring the Mustangs (18-24) to 3-2, it was all Glacier.
Benjamin Fitzgerald’s 2-run double in the fifth inning made it 5-2, and he came home on Sam Linscott’s double to make it 6-2.
Howell had an RBI double to spark a 3-run sixth inning, added an RBI grounder in the seventh and then hit his team-high eighth home run, a 3-run shot, in the ninth.
He finished the game 4-for-6, picked up his 19th stolen base and scored three times. He wore Billings pitching out to the tune of six hits (in 12 at-bats) and nine runs scored in three games. He's hitting .309.
Raper also scored three times, and his seventh home run gave him a team-best 36 runs batted in. Masen Dinesen and McConnell each scored twice, and McConnell stole his 20th base, second in the league. Fitzgerald drove in three runs.
On the mound, Jonathan Clark worked five innings to pick up his first professional win. The San Jose State product scattered seven hits and four walks, striking out three, and allowed one earned run.
The bullpen, another strength of late, then put up four shutout innings.
Sunday is a travel day for the Pioneer League, with action restarting on Monday. The Range Riders start a nine-game home stand Monday against Idaho Falls. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Riders 210 033 103 - 13 13 1
Mustangs 101 000 000 - 2 7 1
Jonathan Clark, Luke Dawson (6), Connor Housley (7), Roy Robles (8), Justin Coleman (9) and Matt Clayton. Jalen Evans, Nate Jenkins (6), Tristen Hudson (7), Hunter Shilperoort (9) and Brady West.
GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — Gabe Howell 4-6, Jackson Raper 2-4, Dean Miller 0-5, Benjamin Fitzgerald 2-5, Clayton 0-2, Christian Kirtley 0-5, Sam Linscott 2-4, Mason Dinesen 1-3, Ben McConnell 2-3.
BILLINGS MUSTANGS — Mikey Edie 0-5, Connor Denning 1-3, Gabe Wurtz 2-4, Tyler Wilber 1-3, Luke Fennelly 1-4, West 1-4, Mitch Moralez 1-3, Tylor Lomack 0-4, Jason Ajamian 0-2.
2B — Howell, Fitzgerald, Linscott, McConnell, Wurtz. HR — Howell (8), Raper (7), Denning (9). RBIs — Howell 5, Fitzgerald 3, Raper 2, Linscott, McConnell, Denning.