Needing just one win to clinch the Pioneer League South Division first-half title, the Ogden Raptors sent Ronny Orta to the mound Thursday night.

Last time out, Orta threw a complete-game, seven-inning shutout at Northern Colorado. Thursday went much differently.

The Rocky Mountain Vibes knocked five hits in the first inning, jumping to a 4-0 lead that was ultimately enough to claim an 11-7 win in front of 4,456 fans at Lindquist Field, delaying Ogden’s title hopes for another night.

In Grand Junction, the Rockies got 8 1/3 scoreless innings from Jimmy Dobrash to beat Northern Colorado 3-0 on Thursday. So with three games left in the first half, Ogden’s magic number to clinch (Raptors wins and/or Rockies losses) remains one.

Ogden and Rocky Mountain play again at 7 p.m. Friday.

Jesus Valdez hit a solo homer in the second to help get Ogden back in the game. Josh Broughton tripled and scored on a groundout to cut it to 4-3 in the third. Although the Vibes’ Ethan Lopez hit a solo home run to make it 5-3, the Raptors did continue a push to make it a game.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Broughton reached via error and scored on a Pat Adams single to make it 5-4. Adams then stole second and scored from there on a throwing error into centerfield to tie it 5-5.

But the Vibes answered and didn’t lose control again in the top of the sixth when Brandon Perez singled off the wall in center with the bases loaded, just out of the reach of a leaping Reese Alexiades, to plate two in an inning Rocky Mountain exited with an 8-5 lead. The visitors made it 11-6 in the eighth against Tom Walker and Dylan Pearce.

RMV starter Jorge Leo got the win, allowing three earned runs in six innings. Ethan Lopez totaled three hits.

Orta allowed six earned runs in six innings and took the loss. Adams led Ogden at the plate with three hits and two RBIs. Valdez, Broughton and Sonny Ulliana also totaled two hits.

THURSDAY SCORES

Rocky Mountain 11, Ogden 6

Grand Junction 3, Northern Colorado 0

Boise 6, Idaho Falls 4

Missoula 10, Great Falls 5

Billings 10, Glacier 9

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

3 games left in 1st Half

NORTH DIVISION

*-Missoula 33-11

Great Falls 26-18

Billings 23-20

Idaho Falls 24-21

Glacier 16-28

*–clinched 1st-half title

SOUTH DIVISION

Ogden 27-18

Grand Junction 24-21

e-Northern Colorado 16-26

e-Boise 17-28

e-Rocky Mountain 14-29

e–eliminated from 1st-half contention

Note: Ogden magic number to clinch is 1

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