BILLINGS — After a rousing win in their tournament opener a day earlier, the Missoula Mavericks slipped into the loser-out bracket with a second-round defeat to Gillette, Wyo., on Thursday at the Class AA American Legion Northwest Regional at Dehler Park.

Missoula, Montana's back-to-back state champion, fell behind early and couldn't reach all the way back in a 4-3 loss, which means the Mavericks will be playing for their tournament lives going forward.

WATCH THURSDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Missoula slips, Billings Royals eliminated on Day 2 of Class AA Northwest Regional

The Mavs fell behind by three runs after the first inning, as Gillette capitalized on a throwing error and as Ethan Hecker and Riley Hawk delivered RBI singles.

Missoula countered with a run in the top of the third on a sacr

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