Range Riders suffer back-to-back 1-run losses
BILLINGS — Kaleb Sophy pitched a complete game allowing just one earned run, but untimely errors cost Glacier the game as they dropped their second-straight game in the Pioneer League to the Billings Mustangs, 4-3 on Friday.
After winning the first two games in the series at Dehler Park, the Range Riders have lost back-to-back one-run games.
On his way to a complete game, Sophy only surrendered one extra-base hit and struck out seven. Antonio Barranca started the scoring in the second inning by lacing a double to centerfield, scoring two runs. He finished the day 2-for-4, the only Range Rider with multiple hits.
In the sixth inning, Sophy retired the first two batters before the next two reached base. A wild pitch scored Gabe Wurtz from third to trim the lead to 2-1 and an error on third baseman Ty Penner brought home another run to tie it.
In the seventh inning, Blake Evans hit a one out double and later scored on an Andy Atwood error that allowed Kyle Booker to reach. Booker later scored on a Gabe Howell error, as the Mustangs took a 4-2 lead. All three runs were unearned.
The eighth inning was the best chance for a Range Riders comeback, as River Orsak led off with a double and Howell singled. Chad Castillo drove in Orsak on a fielder’s choice and Christain Kirtley walked to put the winning run on first.
Penner struck out and Atwood flied out to left field to end the threat and the Range Riders went down in order in the ninth.
Mustangs 12, Riders 11
The Range Riders saw their four-run lead evaporate over the final three innings, as Brendan Ryan hit a walk off single for Billings to complete their comeback Thursday.
Every Glacier starter had at least one hit, and the Range Riders had 14 total while scoring 11 runs for the second straight game.
Leading 10-6 going to the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacob Kline hit a solo home run for the Mustangs, his ninth.
Jack Lynch was brought in for relief in the eighth inning gave up two walks and hit a batter ahead of Connor Denning’s bases-clearing double that tied the game, 10-10.
Ben Fitzgerald scored in the ninth inning on a balk to retake the lead, 11-10. In the Mustangs’ half of the inning, Dylan Leached scored the tying run after reaching base on an error by Atwood.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Ryan singled to center field off Jerry Huntzinger to complete the comeback.
After starter Nick Zenga allowed six runs in five innings and four different bullpen arms allowed six runs over 4 2-3 innings, with two of them unearned.