Mustangs One-Hit and Surrender 2-0 Lead to Drop Sixth Straight

Hits came at a premium for the Mustangs despite an early 2-0 lead in the 1st, but the Paddleheads offense turned it on to earn a sweep with a final score of 9-2.

Billings (3-9) leadoff batter and second-baseman Luke Fennely reached on an error by Missoula (8-4) third-baseman McLain O'Conner, then Fennely stole 2nd base on the next pitch. Mustang second-baseman Mitch Moralez extended his on-base streak to nine straight games with a walk, and shortstop Casey Harford picked up his second double in as many games to score Fennely from 2nd. With the double, Harford extended his hitting streak to four games.

Two batters later, first-baseman Tyler Wilber grounded out to O'Conner at 3rd to score Moralez and make it 2-0.

Starting pitcher for the Mustangs, right-hander and two-way player Luke Trueman, retired the first eight batters he saw, but ran into trouble with two outs in the bottom of the third.

After back-to-back singles by Missoula's shortstop Kamron Willman and second-baseman Patrick Chung, which scored Willman to make it 2-1, center-fielder and Paddlehead RBI leader Keaton Greenwalt launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence to make it 3-2 Paddleheads.

Trueman only made one other mistake coming in the 5th, when designated hitter Jake Guenther tore a pitch over the right-field wall with two runners on to bring the score to 6-2 Paddleheads.

Trueman finished with a season-high five innings pitched, giving up six earned runs on six hits, a walk and he struck out three.

In relief, right-hander Tyler Statler tossed three innings giving up three runs on five hits, a walk and he struck out reigning PBL MVP Jayson Newman-Dodd to end a Paddlehead threat in the 7th, leaving a zero on the scoreboard in that frame.

The Mustangs head back home for a nine-game homestand starting Tuesday, June 6th with six against the Glacier Range Riders and three at home against the Great Falls Voyagers, before heading on the road to Great Falls for three games.

You can find all the action for the 6:35 p.m. series opener Tuesday, with pre-game coverage at 6:15 on ESPN 910/105.5FM or espn910.com. You can also watch every pitch on FloSports.