Lovell Mustangs split conference doubleheaders

The Lovell Mustangs plunged into the heart of the conference season this week, playing three Class A West series, though Mother Nature forced one game to be postponed.

The busy week began last Wednesday, June 11, when the Riverton Raiders traveled to Cowley for a doubleheader. Riverton won a rain-delayed game one 5-2, and the second game was not played when the skies opened up.

Friday, the Mustangs split with the Powell Pioneers, dropping the first game 11-7 and winning the nightcap 11-1.

Traveling to Cody Tuesday, the Mustangs picked up a huge win in game one, 5-0, and dropped the second game 16-1.

Riverton

Game one Wednesday was a good, old-fashioned pitcher’s duel as Mustangs starter Alex Hedges and Riverton starter Maestas went toe to toe.

Riverton scored a run in the top of the first off Hedges and another in the third, but Lovell made it 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the third when Dax Mangus led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mac Morgan, moved up to third on a single by Cash Wassmer and scored on a single by Tucker Jackson.

There was no more scoring until the bottom of the seventh when Morgan reached base on an error, advanced to third on a single by Wassmer and scored when Wassmer stole second and a throwing error allowed Morgan to score, with Wassmer advancing to third. Jackson then hit a grounder to first, and Wassmer was thrown out attempting to score. Hedges singled to put the potential winning run on second, but the next two batters struck out, sending the game to extra innings.

With two out in the top of the eighth, a thunderstorm with lightning struck the area, and the game was suspended for about 30 minutes. The game went into the top of the 10th when Riverton, with two outs, scored three runs, the floodgates opened by an outfield error. 

Hedges had a strong outing on the hill for the Mustangs, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings of work. Lafe Files relieved and blanked the Raiders until the fateful 10th. He threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and no walks, fanning four.

Lovell finished with eight hits at the plate, three by Wassmer and two each by Jackson and Hedges, but the Mustangs struck out 15 times in the game.

Coaches decided to postpone the second game when a steady rain began. A tentative makeup date for the rainout is July 15, manager Michael Jameson said.

Powell

The Powell Pioneers were raking in game one Friday evening, banging out 13 hits, including three triples, but also aided by seven Lovell errors. Powell led 10-1 after five innings before the Lovell bats heated up to produce six runs in the sixth and seventh innings to close the gap.

Powell got to young Mustangs hurler Kannon Owens for five runs in the top of the first inning, swinging for five hits and also scoring two runs on errors.

Lovell scored a single run in the bottom of the first, but Powell plated one run in each the second, third and fifth innings and two in the fourth while blanking the Mustangs to build a 10-1 lead.

Lovell rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Alex Hedges and an RBI triple by Owen Edwards, and after Powell added a tally in the top of the seventh, the Mustangs plated four in the bottom of the seventh as Wassmer hit an RBI single, Cove Jolley lofted a sacrifice fly and Hedges belted a two-run homer.

Hedges finished the game 2-4 with two home runs, two runs and three RBIs.

Owens took the loss on the mound, allowing nine runs, two earned, on 10 hits and one walk in 3 1/3 innings of work, striking out three. Edwards threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, fanning one.

Jackson threw a gem in game two as the Mustangs “10-runned” the Pioneers. The veteran hurler allowed just one run on one hit and two walks in five innings, fanning 12. The defense did not make an error behind him.

Lovell exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning and added single runs in the second and fourth, then four more in the fifth. Edwards hit a two-run single in the first inning, and Hedges and Kyle Wilson added single-RBI hits, as well. Jackson ripped an RBI double in the fourth.

Cody

Jackson threw darts from the mound in the first game Tuesday, shutting Cody out on four hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out 11.

The Mustangs scored one run in the top of the first inning when Morgan reached base on an error, worked his way to third base and scored on a single by Wassmer. They added four more in the third on a sacrifice fly hit by Hedges, a two-run single by Edwards and an error.

That was it for scoring for the Mustangs, but they didn’t need any more runs as Jackson dominated on the mound.

Game two was all Cody as the Cubs plated five runs in the first inning, two in each the second and third innings and seven in the fourth, winning via the 10-run mercy rule.

Lovell’s lone run came in the second inning on a solo home run blasted by Wilson.

Cody out-hit Lovell 11-4, and Wassmer, Hedges, Files and Rocco Rael threw for the Mustangs with little success against the revenge-minded Cubs.

Coming up

Now 13-15 and 3-4 in conference play, the Mustangs will be back on the road this weekend at the Buffalo Wild Wings Tournament in Billings. Lovell is scheduled to play the Billings Blue Jays today (Thursday) at 10 a.m., followed by the Green River Knights at 3 p.m. A game with Pocatello follows Friday at 3 p.m., after which the teams will be seeded into bracket play.