Down to Their Last Strike, Owlz Come Back

The Owlz never gave up Wednesday night in Helena, tying the game when they were down to their last strike in the ninth, then coming back to win the game in extra innings.

 

Orem got on the board quickly, with a two-run home run off the bat of Michael Strentz in the top of the first inning. We'd hear from Strentz again later.

 

Ryan Seiz hit a two-run home run to centerfield in the second inning putting the Owlz up 4-0. The Brewers would come back, however, largely due to some help by the Owlz defense.

 

Helena scored three runs (two unearned) to pull to within a run in the third. Caleb Adams hit a solo home run that bounced off the centerfield wall and over it in the fourth to push the cushion to 5-3, but the Brewers tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth.

 

The Brewers then took the lead with two more runs in the sixth. Down 7-5, the Owlz looked lifeless heading to the ninth after the Helena bullpen shut down Orem's powerful offense.

 

The top of the ninth woke the Owlz up, however. Ryan Seiz led off the inning with a single up the middle. Later, RJ Santigate grounded out to second base to drive in Seiz from third, but that was out number two.

 

With the bases clear and two outs, the Owlz were down to their last out. Andrew Daniel singled and Raul Linares walked to put runners at first and second with two outs. That's when the red-hot Strentz came back to the plate. He worked a full count before driving a single to leftfield to tie the game.

 

Down to their last strike, the Owlz had tied the game. That was all the Owlz were able to get in the inning though, but Ronnie Muck didn't allow a base runner in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

 

The Owlz bats stayed hot in the tenth, with Seiz scoring Natanael Delgado on a hard-hit ball that bounced off the second baseman for an error. The Owlz picked up a couple more runs to buy some insurance, but they wouldn't need it as Muck dominated again in the tenth.

 

Muck retired the side in order in the bottom of the tenth to earn the win, throwing three scoreless innings and only allowing one base runner while striking out five.

 

The Owlz improved to 20-9 with the win and stay three games up on the Grand Junction Rockies who won in Missoula. The Owlz magic number to clinch the division is down to six with nine games left in the first half.

 

The Owlz and the Brewers will play game two of the series Thursday night at 7:05. You can listen live to the game with the voice of the Owlz, Trevor Amicone, at audio.oremowlz.com.