A four-game back and forth gave way to a series win for Billings after the Mustangs shut down the Ogden Raptors in two weekend games at Dehler Park in Montana.

Billings held Ogden to 13 hits in the final 18 innings to take the series 4-2.

The Raptors (35-43), now 13-17 in the second half, will need a red-hot tear over the final 18 games (15 of which are at home) to vie for a second-half playoff berth.

Ogden plays at home Tuesday through Sunday, hosting Idaho Falls (32-46, 12-18) at Lindquist Field. The Raptors finish the 2024 regular season with nine straight games at home from Aug. 31 through Sept. 8 against the Rocky Mountain Vibes and the Glacier Range Riders.

MUSTANGS 6, RAPTORS 1

Ogden loaded the bases in the second inning on Saturday, sparked by a Drew Brutcher leadoff double, and scored when Landen Barns took a hit by pitch. But Mustangs starter Greg Blackman retired the next three batters in order, including two strikeouts, to leave the bases loaded.

Ogden starter Rafael Vazquez got the game into the fourth tied 1-1 until giving up a solo homer to Evan Blum and grand slam to Connor Denning.

Shawn Triplett, Nico Saltaformaggio, Brayden Bonner and Christian Griffin silenced Billings for the final 4 2/3 innings but Ogden had only three hits the rest of the way at the plate. Brutcher doubled again in the sixth but was left on third base.

MUSTANGS 11, RAPTORS 4

Much like Saturday’s start, Ogden got up 1-0 on a Nick Ultsch RBI double in the top of the third but Billings slapped Gabriel Pacheco for six runs on five hits in the bottom of the third to take control.

Pearce Howard hit a two-RBI double for the Raptors in the fourth, and Kenny Oyama added an RBI single in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors. Ultsch hit 3 for 5.

Gabe Wurtz hit 3 for 5 with two RBIs for Bilings, joining five other Mustangs with multiple hits as the home team outhit Ogden 15-8.