Mustangs Answer Voyagers’ Rally with Eight-Run Seventh for 15th Straight Win

For a brief moment on Tuesday night, the Mustangs' winning streak looked to be in major jeopardy. They led 2-0 thanks to a Gabe Wurtz solo homer and Brendan Ryan's RBI single in the sixth inning, but a pair of errors opened the floodgates for a Great Falls rally in the seventh. The Voyagers put up seven unearned runs in the frame, capped by a two-run single by Charley Hesse. The Mustangs however did not give in, immediately loading the bases in their half of the inning on three straight walks. Wurtz drove home a run on a fielder's choice, and John Michael Faile brought home Taylor Lomack with a single. After Alejandro Figueredo walked to load the bases again, Ryan came through with a two-run single to trim the deficit to one. Luke Fennelly followed up by blasting a three-run homer, giving Billings a 9-7 lead. Mikey Edie added an RBI triple later in the inning, and Jacob Stobart and Trevor Jackson combined to record the final six outs of the game. Billings has won 15 games in a row and remains in first place in the North Division second-half standings by a half-game over Missoula. 

Grand Junction 14, Rocky Mountain 7: Jacks Score 10 Unanswered, Trim Vibes' Division Lead 

The Vibes struck first once again in the second game of their series in Grand Junction, scoring four times in the top of the first inning. Jacob Cruce answered for the Jackalopes with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame, but the Vibes added two more runs in the third, featuring Jacob Barfield driving in his third run of the night. Cruce went deep for the second time of the night in the bottom of the inning, but Jake McMurray answered for Rocky Mountain with an RBI single. The Jacks chipped away on Jaylen Hubbard's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, then evened up the score with three runs in the following inning. In the sixth, Matt Golda gave Grand Junction their first lead of the night with a two-run double. After Tyler Sandoval's RBI single, the Jacks loaded the bases and Hubbard put his stamp on the game with a grand slam, giving Grand Junction a 14-7 advantage. Hubbard is now just one RBI shy of Matt Feinstein's single-season record from 2021. On the mound, Tyler Johnson allowed just one hit and one walk over four shutout innings of relief. The Jackalopes now trail the Vibes by just one game in the South Division second-half standings. 

Northern Colorado 10, Ogden 4 

Ogden 14, Northern Colorado 8: Robertson Breaks Stolen-Base Record, Owlz and Raptors Split Doubleheader 

The Owlz jumped all over the Ogden pitching staff in the first game of their doubleheader, scoring once in the first innings and seven times in the second, capped by a three-run homer off the bat of Tim Bouchard. The biggest highlight of the game though came in the fourth inning, when Payton Robertson led off the inning with an infield single and stole second base, his 61st steal of the year, breaking Tom Goodwin's single-season record from 1989. Robertson eventually came around to score on Dave Matthews' RBI single. Bouchard finished off his strong opener with an RBI single for his fourth run driven in on the day. 

Ogden jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap, but Northern Colorado scored seven times in the fifth inning, featuring run-scoring hits by Robertson, Bouchard, Matthews, and Euro Diaz. Ogden responded by scoring five times in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, including a home run from Jonathan Soto, three runs driven in by Josh Broughton, and two driven in by Landen Barns. The Owlz scored an unearned run in the seventh inning but Ogden held on to earn the split with a 14-8 victory. 

Missoula 4, Boise 3: Villa Delivers Again, Simon Holds Off Late Charge by Boise 

Tuesday night's game in Boise was scoreless into the fourth inning when Jakob Guenther gave Missoula the lead with a two-run homer. On the mound for the PaddleHeads, Alfredo Villa delivered another strong outing, holding Boise to just one run on five hits, walking three, and striking out eight over six innings of work. Ryan Cash came through with a two-run single in the seventh, but Mark Simon gave up a two-run single to Raymond Gil to cut the lead to just one in the ninth inning with one out. Simon buckled down though, striking out Tyler Jorgensen and Noah Marcelo to end the game. With another strong outing, Villa has all but assured that he will win the league's first Triple Crown since 2000. Missoula has won their last three games and still trails Billings by just a half-game in the North Division second-half race. 

Idaho Falls 2, Glacier 1: Silva Outduels White, Brown Contains Late Push by Range Riders 

It was a low-scoring affair at Glacier Bank Park in the second game of a three-game series between the Range Riders and Chukars. Jack White dodged traffic all night for the Range Riders, allowing four hits and five walks, but only surrendering one run and striking out six in 6 1/3 innings of work. On the flip side, Daniel Silva held Glacier to just five hits and one walk, striking out five over six shutout innings. Trevor Halsema gave Idaho Falls some breathing room with an RBI triple in the eighth inning, while Victor Rodriguez recorded five outs in relief of Silva. Colin Gordon homered with one out in the ninth inning to break up the shutout and Ben Fitzgerald followed with a double, but Robbie Brown was able to settle down and pick up the four-out save. With Billings' ongoing hot streak, the Range Riders aren't in playoff position with four games left to play.