In the first game of the final home doubleheader of the season for the Butte Miners, the Belgrade Bandits fended off a late rally to come away with a 3-2 nonconference win.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when a Cade Thomas chopper drove in a Belgrade run. The Bandits added two more in the sixth thanks to runs batted in from Andrew Ronsen and Andrew Hazen to take a three-run lead into the final frame.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Matthew Donaldson drew a walk for Butte, followed up by consecutive RBI doubles from Colt Hassler and Tegan Duffy. But with the tying run 180 feet from home plate, a groundout abruptly ended the game.
Memphis Wagner was outstanding on the mound for the Bandits, pitching a complete game and surrendering just 4 hits and 2 walks on 86 pitches while striking out 6.
Derek Dunmire pitched the first 4.1 innings for Butte, allowing 3 hits and an unearned run while striking out four. Lucas Harris-Huerta pitched the final 2.2 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 earned runs and recording a strikeout.