Barros, 3 relievers lift Range Riders

Pitcher Noah Barros allowed one run in six innings of work and the Glacier Range Riders made an early lead hold up for a 5-2 Pioneer League win over the Billings Mustangs Wednesday.

Ben Fitzgerald hit his fourth homer — a solo shot that tied the game at 1-1 — for the Range Riders, who have won three straight and are 2-0 at Glacier Bank Park.

The Range Riders (4-2) actually went ahead for good on Dean Miller’s double-play grounder with the bases loaded; Ben McConnell scored to make to 2-1 in the third inning.

Jackson Raper followed with an RBI single, and Glacier added two two runs in the fourth on Crews Taylor’s single. That made it 5-1.

That was enough for Barros, who allowed six hits and one walk before giving away to three relievers. He struck out three.

Joseph Kinsky, Justin Coleman and Nathan Thomas each handled an inning for the Range Riders. Coleman struck out three; Thomas surrendered a solo homer to the Mustangs’ Connor Denning, his fourth. Billings (3-5) left 10 runners on base.

The teams battle again Thursday, before the Rocky Mountain Vibes come to Glacier Bank Park for a 3-game series beginning Friday.

Mustangs 010 000 001 - 2 7 0

Range Riders 012 200 00x - 5 7 0

Jalen Evans, Tyler Statler (6) and Jared Fry. Noah Barros, Joseph Kinsky (7), Justin Coleman (8), Nathan Thomas (9) and Matt Clayton.

BILLINGS MUSTANGS — Casey Hoarford 0-5, Connor Dennig 2-3, Mikey Edie 1-5, Gabe Wurtz 0-2, Mitch Moralez 1-3, Tyler Wilber 2-4, Taylor Lomack 0-4, Bryce Donovan 1-3, Jared Fry 0-3, Myles Miller 0-1.

GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — Gabe Howell 0-2, Crews Taylor 1-2, Dean Miller 0-3, Jackson Raper 1-4, Kingston Liniak 0-4, Ben Fitzgerald 2-4, Clayton 2-4, Mason Dinesen 0-4, Ben McConnell 1-2.

2B — Clayton. HR — Denning (4), Fitzgerald (4). RBIs — Lomack, Denning, Taylor 2, Raper, Fitzgerald.