Mustangs offense stays cold in 3-1 loss

Posted: Jul 8, 2012 5:11 PM by Casey Conlon - Q2 Sports
Updated: Jul 8, 2012 5:17 PM

GREAT FALLS - The Billings Mustangs thought they had cured their offensive issues in the first inning of Sunday's game in Great Falls. Unfortunately for them, it was false hope.

The Mustangs managed two hits and a run in the first inning, but managed only three more hits the rest of the game in a 3-1 loss to the Voyagers, bringing the teams into a tie atop the Pioneer League North Division standings.

After Beau Amaral reached on a fielding error to begin the game, he then stole second base, and Jesse Winker singled to bring Amaral home and give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

Great Falls however shut down the Mustangs after that, and took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the 4th, and one more in the 5th, which turned out to be more than enough against the worst offense in league.

Robert Maddox's double was the only extra-base hit of the game for the Mustangs, who are now hitting .253 as a team through 21 games, last in the Pioneer League. Winker was the only Billings player with more than one hit, going 2-4 with a pair of singles.

Voyagers starter Keegan Linza got the win, pitching six innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits. Mustangs starter Joel Bender took the loss, giving up two runs on seven hits in four innings.

Both teams now sit at 12-9 on the season, and play the final game of their three-game series tomorrow night in Great Falls at 7:00 pm.