After losing the series opener 5-4, the Ogden Raptors dropped the hammer for five straight games, squashing the Northern Colorado Owlz twice more in a Saturday doubleheader to claim the series and inch ahead in the Pioneer League South Divison first-half race.

The Raptors outscored the Owlz 73-18 over the final five games, an average of 14.6-3.6 in what were all shortened, seven-inning games.

The Rocky Mountain Vibes topped the Grand Junction Rockies 8-6 on Saturday night, giving Ogden (25-17) a 3 1/2-game lead over Grand Junction prior to Sunday’s games with just more than a week left to play in the first half.

The Raptors have Sunday and Monday off as they travel home, where they will host the Vibes in the final series of the first half from July 12-17 at Lindquist Field. First-half champions secure a bid to the league playoffs in September.

RAPTORS 16, OWLZ 2

Ogden starter Christian Day got the better of former teammate Kida De La Cruz on the hill as the Raptors quickly jumped to a large lead to take the first game early Saturday afternoon.

Day allowed one earned run on six hits, striking out four and walking zero in five innings to get the win. In the opposite half-innings, the Raptors tallied 10 earned runs on De La Cruz in 2 2/3 innings, drawing seven walks and totaling six hits.

Josh Broughton, Andrew Noviello and Brian Dansereau — the latter player the eventual return to Ogden on the trade of De La Cruz to the Owlz — all hit 3 for 5. Dansereau, Noviello and Dustyn Macaluso — the latter of whom hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to make the score 14-1 — all drove in three runs. Broughton and Freddy Achecar each scored three times.

Dansereau doubled in Pat Adams in the third to close the book on De La Cruz and make it 11-0. Dakota Conners doubled in a run in the fifth and Jesus Valdez capped the scoring in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.

Haden Erbe threw two scoreless innings to close it for Ogden, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.

RAPTORS 14, OWLZ 7

Ogden again built a double-digit lead through three innings and kept enough distance to close the series with a win Saturday evening.

The Raptors broke it open in the second inning when Reese Alexiades tripled to score two runs, then Brian Dansereau followed with a two-run homer to make it 8-0. Sonny Ulliana added a sacrifice fly for a 9-0 mark and, in the third, Dakota Conners walked with the bases loaded for a 10-0 lead.

Both teams left the bases loaded twice in the seven-inning game, mitigating an already high-scoring affair. Samuel Burton got the win with ample run support, giving up six earned runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Chase Stratton threw 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to close the fifth and Jackson Lancaster struck out two in the seventh to close it for Ogden.

The Owlz clawed back to as close as 10-6 in the fifth after Robbie Kellerman hit a two-run homer and Ty Lewis doubled in a run. But Sonny Ulliana answered by taking the drama out of it in the top of the sixth, hitting a two-run dinger of his own to make it 12-6.

Jesus Valdez and Freddy Achecar added RBI singles in the seventh for good measure. Alexiades and Ulliana led the team with three RBIs each.

SATURDAY SCORES

Ogden 16, Northern Colorado 2

Ogden 14, Northern Colorado 7

Rocky Mountain 8, Grand Junction 6

Boise 7, Billings 6 (Knockout)

Missoula 5, Glacier 4

Great Falls 22, Idaho Falls 9

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION

Missoula 30-10

Great Falls 24-16

e-Billings 21-17

e-Idaho Falls 22-18

e-Glacier 13-26

SOUTH DIVISON

Ogden 25-17

Grand Junction 21-20

e-Northern Colorado 15-24

e-Boise 15-25

e-Rocky Mountain 13-26

*e — eliminated from first-half race

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