Mustangs win, Range Riders miss PL playoffs

MISSOULA — The Billings Mustangs won again Saturday, and kept the Glacier Range Riders out of the Pioneer League playoffs

The Mustangs knocked off Northern Colorado 7-6 Saturday, rallying from a 3-0 deficit behind home runs from John Michael Faile and Brendan Ryan.

The win means the worst Billings could do was tie the Missoula Paddleheads — who beat Glacier 13-3 Saturday — for the second-half North Division title. And a tie gives the title to the Mustangs.

Missoula needed to win both halves outright for the Riders to get in via next-best overall record. Glacier won 54 games overall and Billings won 51.

The Range Riders actually hurt their cause and helped the Mustangs with a 7-2 win at Missoula Friday. Christian Kirtley and Kingston Liniak homered to back six strong innings by pitcher Patrick Miner (6-4) in the win.

Ben Huber slugged a two-run homer in Saturday's loss.

The PaddleHeads, who were facing a rain-out makeup at Idaho Falls Sunday if it affected the standings, will head to Billings Monday instead.

Billings won 15 straight games to make up a seven-game gap in the standings on Aug. 20, and have won 17 of 19 heading to the postseason.