Range Riders: Howell, Pintaro key 4th straight win
BILLINGS — Gabe Howell scored three runs and drove in three, and the Glacier Range Riders made it four straight Pioneer League wins Wednesday with an 11-0 thumping of the Billings Mustangs.
Ben Fitzgerald hit his league-leading fifth home run for the Northern Division-leading Range Riders (9-3), and Jackson Raper drove in four runs — three with a bases-loaded double in the ninth inning at Dehler Park.
That was more than enough offense for starting pitcher Jonathan Pintaro (2-0), who threw eight shutout innings. He gave up just three hits and four walks, and struck out the side in the fifth inning on the way to seven strikeouts.
Billings (3-11) mounted its only real threat in Pintaro’s final inning, loading the bases on two singles and a walk; Gabe Wurtz then hit into a fielder’s choice to end the rally.
Ryan Cloude worked a scoreless ninth for Glacier, fanning two.
The Range Riders rapped out 12 hits while collecting 11 walks and one hit batter. Mason Dinesen had two hits and scored three times against his former team.
Crews Taylor, like Dinesen and Raper a former Mustang, didn’t have a hit but drew four walks, two of them with the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings.
Fitzgerald’s solo homer came in the fifth as well.
Raper has 18 runs batted in, second in the league.
The teams battle again Thursday and continue their six-game series through Sunday.
Riders 110 320 004 - 11 12 0
Mustangs 000 000 000 - 0 3 0
Jonathan Pintero, Ryan Cloude (9) and Matt Clayton. Jalen Evans, Tyler Pohlmann (5), Omar Sanchez (8), Bryce Donovan (9) and Antonio Fernandez.
GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — Gabe Howell 2-3, Crews Taylor 0-2, Dean Miller 1-5, Jackson Raper 2-6, Kingston Liniak 2-6, Ben Fitzgerald 2-4, Eddie McCabe 0-1, Matt Clayton 1-3, Mason Dinesen 2-4, Ben McConnell 0-3.
BILLINGS MUSTANGS — Mitch Moralez 0-3, Connor Denning 0-3, Gabe Wurtz 0-3, Lance Logsdon 1-2, Casey Harford 0-3, Luke Trueman 0-1, Antonio Fernandez 0-4, Luke Fennely 1-4, Taylor Lomack 1-3, Tyler Wilber 0-3.
2B — Raper. HR — Fitzgerald (5). RBIs — Raper 4, Howell 3, Taylor 2, Miller, Fitzgerald.