BILLINGS — The Billings Royals used a nine-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach in a 13-1 win over the Butte Miners Wednesday night.

The game was the opener of a three-game set that is critical to the Miners. The teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday.

Cody Frenk struck out six batters and scattered five hits in the complete-game victory. Pearce Kurth, Conner Polkowsk ad Carson Zale — the bottom third of the Royals’ roster — combined for nine hits to lead the offensive explosion. Zale hit a triple and a double while driving in five runs.

Nate LeProwse, Ryan Moodry, Dyllan “Kruk” Lane, Quin Summers and Logan LaFromboise each hit a single for the Miners.

BUTTE MINERS         AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS ROYALS      AB  R  H BI
Kash Kelly            3  0  0  0  Patrick Zimmer        5  0  1  1  
Trey Hoagland         3  0  0  0  Jake Orvis            3  1  0  1  
Nate LeProwse         3  1  1  0  Cole McKenzie         4  1  1  0  
Ryan Moodry           2  0  1  0  Morgan Dugi           3  2  2  1  
Dyllan Lane           3  0  1  0  Cameron Maciel        4  1  2  1  
Quin Summers          3  0  1  1  Dawson Smith          4  1  1  1  
Zach Hart             3  0  0  0  Pearce Kurth          3  3  3  1  
Trey Berger           3  0  0  0  Connor Polkowske      3  3  3  1  
Logan LaFromboise     2  0  1  0  Carson Zale           3  1  3  5  
TOTALS               25  1  5  1  TOTALS               32 13 16 12
BUTTE MINERS                  000 000 1 -- 1  
BILLINGS ROYALS               031 900 x -- 13 
LOB--BUTTE MINERS 4, BILLINGS ROYALS 6. ERR--Kash Kelly.
2B--Cole McKenzie, Cameron Maciel, Carson Zale. 3B--Carson
Zale. SB--Pearce Kurth, Jake Orvis.
 BUTTE MINERS                    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Renzy Doherty (L)              3.67   15   13   13    2    0    0
Justin Summers                 2.33    1    0    0    3    0    0
 BILLINGS ROYALS            
Cody Frenk (W)                 7.00    5    1    1    1    6    0
PB--Ryan Moodry. WP--Renzy Doherty. SO--Quin Summers, Nate
Leprowse, Kash Kelly (2), Trey Berger, Dyllan Lane. BB--Ryan
Moodry, Connor Polkowske, Pearce Kurth, Morgan Dugi, Jake
Orvis, Carson Zale.