Orem - The Owlz kicked off their home portion of the 2018 schedule on Thursday night by falling 9-3 to the Ogden Raptors.Cole Duensing started for the Owlz, who were 2-4 coming into the game. This was the twenty year old's second game of the season, his first first being on
Orem - The Owlz kicked off their home portion of the 2018 schedule on Thursday night by falling 9-3 to the Ogden Raptors.
Cole Duensing started for the Owlz, who were 2-4 coming into the game. This was the twenty year old's second game of the season, his first first being on Saturday against Grand Junction.
Both teams struggled to score through the first few innings. Shortstop Livan Soto was able to steal his first base of the season in the bottom of the first inning, but the Owlz were unable to score, keeping the game scoreless.
Soto connected with a double down the first base line in the bottom of the third. Following the double, Kevin Maitan was also able to reach on an error, enabling Soto to score. This gave the Owlz their first run of the game, leaving the score 1-0 going into the fourth inning.
In the fourth inning,the Owlz Francisco Del Valle hit a single, allowing Orlando Martinez to score from third after three straight hits to open the inning. This gave the Owlz their second run of the game giving them a 2-0 lead to end the fourth inning.
Jon Malmin relieved Duensing, who threw four shutout innings,having three hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
The Raptors' Dillon Paulson hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning tying the score up at 2-2.
Ogden went on a scoring frenzy in the seventh, going for three runs.
Mario Sanjur belted the ball to left field, nearly getting a homerun as it hit the wall. This was Sanjur's first double of the season. On the next play, a line drive single into right came from the bat of designated hitter Erven Roper. Soto then hit a ball up center field, which went through the legs and hands of Raptor's pitcher, Mark Washington. Sanjur scored thanks to an Ogden error and helped the Owlz narrow the gap a little bit, as they were down 3-5 after the seventh inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Owlz brought in Nick Jobst at pitcher, this was his third appearance of the season. Third baseman, Luke Heyer, hit a two run homer into right field, giving the Raptors a four run lead. Preston Grand Pre then hit another double homer, giving Ogden a 9-3 lead, and capping off a four run inning for the Raptors.
The Owlz were unable to score in the final inning and ultimately fell 9-3 to the Raptors.
On a bright note for the Owlz, Maitan and Del Valle both had their sixth straight game with a base hit tonight.
Orem will take on the Raptors again tomorrow night for Luau Night presented by Edge Homes. The Owlz are 1-2 against the Raptors in the series, their sole win coming last night. Tomorrow's game will be at the Home of the Owlz at 7:05 p.m. MST. To buy single game tickets go here, and to purchase season tickets go here. You can also call us at (801) 377-BALL (2255).
