The Ogden Raptors socked four home runs in the first five innings Friday at Suplizio Field and ultimately claimed a 14-9 win over the Grand Junction Rockies, evening the series at 2-2 with two contests left.

Outfielder Josh Broughton homered to lead off the game in the first inning. He now has a home run, a triple and a double to lead off games this week.

In a seven-run second, second baseman Dakota Conners hit a two-run homer, Broughton added an RBI single and shortstop Jesus Valdez slugged a grand slam to put Ogden (38-26, 9-7) up 8-0.

Grand Junction (37-27, 11-5) chipped away against Ogden starter Sidney Duprey in the fourth, getting a bases-loaded double from Shawn Ross and a three-run homer from Jonah Girand to make it 8-6.

Broughton hit his second homer of the game in the fifth, a two-run shot to put the Raptors ahead 10-6 and ending the book on Rockies starter Alexander Smith, who took the loss in 4 1/3 innings by giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits. Valdez later scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-6.

GJ scored one more against Duprey in the fifth to end his night in 4 1/3 innings when he issued a bases-loaded walk. Chase Stratton, who earned the win in 1 2/3 relief innings, stranded three by taking over and getting two important outs for the Raptors.

RBI singles in the sixth and seventh got Grand Junction as close as 11-9 but Ogden broke it open in the ninth. Valdez reached six RBIs on the night with a two-run single and Brian Dansereau added an RBI hit to cap the scoring.

Broughton hit 5 for 6 with four RBIs and four runs scored.

The two teams finish their series at 6:35 p.m. Saturday and 3:35 p.m. Sunday.

FRIDAY SCORES

Ogden 14, Grand Junction 9

Rocky Mountain 8, Northern Colorado 7 (via Knockout)

Great Falls 3, Missoula 1

Billings 10, Glacier 7

Boise 11, Idaho Falls 3 (in progress – 8th inning)

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half

NORTH DIVISION

Idaho Falls 10-5 (38-25 overall)

*Missoula 9-7 (44-19)

Great Falls 9-7 (36-27)

Billings 8-8 (33-29)

Glacier 5-11 (22-41)

SOUTH DIVISION

Grand Junction 11-5 (37-27)

*Ogden 9-7 (38-26)

Northern Colorado 7-8 (24-36)

Rocky Mountain 7-8 (23-38)

Boise 3-12 (20-43)

*- denotes first-half champion

Newsletter