July 10, 2023
Game 43 Recap
Hawks start off homestand with a win over Mustangs
The Boise Hawks came out on top in an exciting matchup against the Billings Mustangs, securing a 7-5 victory. Both teams displayed their offensive abilities throughout the game, but it was the Hawks who managed to hold on to their lead and emerge as the winners at the end.
The Mustangs wasted no time in the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead. A walk by Fennelly drove in Wilber for the first run, followed by a single from Edie that brought in Crenshaw and Denning, both unearned.
The Hawks quickly responded in the bottom of the first, tying the game at 3-3. A single by Alex Baeza drove in D.J. Poteet and Kole Kaler, and Raymond Gil followed up with a double, allowing Sam Olsson to score.
Boise took the lead in the third inning when Olsson singled through the left side, bringing Poteet home. Gil then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the Hawks' lead to 5-3. A defensive error by the Mustangs allowed Trevor Minder to reach first base, allowing Ronnie Allen Jr. to score and increasing Boise's lead to 6-3.
In the fourth inning, Olsson continued his impressive performance with another RBI single, driving in Poteet and giving the Hawks a comfortable 7-3 lead.
The Mustangs made a late push in the ninth inning, with West reaching first on an error, advancing to second, and bringing in Fennelly. Ajamian then grounded out to third base, allowing Edie to score on an unearned run. However, it wasn't enough to complete the comeback, and the game ended with a final score of 7-5 in favor of the Boise Hawks.
Matt Voelker started on the mound for the Hawks and pitched seven strong innings, allowing three runs (all unearned) on five hits while striking out six batters. Mike Peterson came in for relief in the final two innings, giving up two runs (both unearned) on one hit.
With this win, the Boise Hawks improved their record to 24-19, while the Billings Mustangs' record dropped to 18-25.
The game provided an entertaining display of offense, with both teams showcasing their hitting ability. Ultimately, the Hawks' strong pitching and timely hitting proved to be the difference-maker in securing the victory.