The Billings Mustangs walked a fine line between winning and losing for most of Saturday night's game with the Casper Ghosts, and when they fell, they fell hard.

A pretty good pitcher's duel turned into a rout for the Ghosts, who pounded 12 hits in the final four innings - Casper had 17 hits overall - and went on to bury the Mustangs 9-2.

Yorman Rodriguez and Chris Richburg hit towering home runs for the Mustangs, and starter Blair Carson was solid for 5º innings. But any good accomplished by the Mustangs was more than undone by an ending that saw the Ghosts score eights runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

"Unfortunately, the way things have been going for us, we haven't been able to answer," Mustangs manager Julio Garcia said. "We're trying everything we can. By the same token, Casper is playing so well. They execute. That's been the difference in the series."

Casper has won four of five in this rare six-game series, which was extended from four games when rain outs in Casper forced the teams to play doubleheaders Thursday and Friday here in Billings.

Carson (1-4), who struck out a career-high six, appeared to be riding the momentum of Friday night's 6-0 win over the Ghosts, the first shutout of the season for the Mustangs, and left the game with one out in the sixth trailing just 1-0. But neither Ricky Bowen (two runs, one earned) nor Bryan Gardner (five runs in one-third of an inning) nor Daniel Corcino (three hits in 1º innings) could keep the Ghosts in check any longer.

Casper batted around in the eighth and scored five times, and after the inning was over, many of the 2,927 in attendance began exiting Dehler Park.

"It's a tough loss, but whether we get beat by 10 or get beat by one, it's still a loss," said Richburg, who hit his home run in the eighth inning, his second round-tripper in as many nights. "We still have to come out and try and salvage one (today)."

Casper starter Nick Schnaitmann made his first start with the Ghosts a good one. The 6-foot-6 right-hander shut out the Mustangs over five innings, allowing just one hit. He struck out just two, but retired the last 11 batters he faced.

Alejandro Barraza, who allowed both Mustangs homers, and Tyler Gagnon finished up to complete the three-hitter, but the tone was set by Schnaitmann (1-0).

"He was just locating well," Richburg said. "He had a little run on his fastball … you've got to give a lot of credit to him, but we've got to do a little better job next time."

NOTES: The home runs by Rodriguez and Richburg were the third of the season for each. Rodriguez singled in the first inning to account for the third Mustang hit. … Casper catcher Chandler Laurent homered, tripled and singled in his first four at-bats. He had a chance at the cycle in his second at-bat in the eighth but he grounded into a fielder's choice. … The 17 hits were a season high for the Ghosts. … Mustangs catcher Mark Fleury threw out his 16th attempted base stealer and picked another runner off first base, but he also was charged with three passed balls and a throwing error.