Despite 3 hits, Owlz claim another close game over Ogden Raptors on Friday | News, Sports, Jobs

Two Ogden Raptors pitchers recorded 27 outs without allowing a hit on Friday night in Northern Colorado.

The problem, however, was what the Owlz did before even a single out was registered.

Northern Colorado scored three hits in the first half of the game, the team’s total of hits in the game, to beat Ogden 4-2.

Against Ogden starter Mitchell Stone, Northern Colorado (35-22, 7-3 in the second half) scored two hits and a single to open the game.

The Owlz got everything they needed from the game’s fourth batter, Jackson Coutts clearing the bases with a double to put Northern Colorado up 3-0.

An error by Stone in the second inning put an Owlz runner in position to score on a sacrifice fly, making it 4-0. After that, Northern Colorado had just three baserunners, all on base, for the remaining 7 1/3 innings.

With seven hits, Ogden (26-32, 4-6) more than doubled Northern Colorado’s three-hit total, but the Owlz defense made enough plays to hold off the Raptors.

That, and starter Robb Adams threw the NoCo staff’s lone hit of the game; he also allowed one run on four hits and struck out nine in seven innings.

The Raptors got runners on second and third with one out in the eighth inning, but were able to score only one on a groundout by Cole Jordan.

In the top of the ninth inning, Ogden’s Jack Cone led off with a double and scored on a single by Raymond Gil (plus a pitching error) to make it 4-2 with no outs. But Nick Ultsch hit a 4-6-3 double play to end any possible rally.

Stone, making his second start since returning to the Raptors, struck out five in five innings. Shawn Triplett was one over the minimum in three hitless, scoreless relief innings, issuing a walk but otherwise stifling the Owlz.

The two teams will conclude the series with a match on Saturday and Sunday.

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