OGDEN — The Odgen Raptors rallied twice to take leads Saturday but the Northern Colorado Owlz hammered three home runs in the final five innings, claiming an 11-8 win and their third straight over the homestanding Raptors at Lindquist Field.

The two teams finish their six-game series at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Trailing 3-1 in the fourth inning, Ogden pushed across the tying runs on a single, a walk, an error and three wild pitches. Then Nick Michaels hit a sacrifice fly to score Reese Alexiades to go ahead 4-3, and catcher Andrew Noviello made it 6-3 with a two-run single to right field.

That’s when Northern Colorado brought out the sticks. With two outs in the top of the fifth, catcher Robbie Kellerman launched a three-run homer to left-center to tie it 6-6.

Ogden answered in the bottom of the fifth when Alexiades hit a two-out single to score Pat Adams for a 7-6 lead.

Owlz emerging star Brandon Crosby singled in a pair of runs in the sixth to regain the lead for his team yet again at 8-7. In the eighth, NoCo designated hitter Alex Jackson homered to left to make it 9-7.

In the bottom of the eighth, Alexiades scored on a wild pitch after infielder Jesus Valdez singled. With Valdez on third as the tying run, pinch-hitting Sonny Ulliana grounded out to third to end the inning.

That potential run ended up not mattering. Owlz third baseman Kevin Higgins blasted a two-run, no-doubt homer to left-center off Riley Ottesen in the ninth for the final 11-8 margin.

Chris Campbell got the loss for Ogden, surrendering the go-ahead, two-run single to Crosby in the sixth. Austin Schneider got the win for Northern Colorado.

Crosby hit 4 for 5 for the Owlz, with Kellerman and Higgins each driving in three runs.

Valdez hit 3 for 4 for Ogden. Pat Adams was 2 for 5 and scored two runs.

SATURDAY SCORES

Northern Colorado 11, Ogden 8

Grand Junction 10 def. Boise 10 (1-0 Knockout)

Idaho Falls 25, Rocky Mountain 17

Great Falls 16, Glacier 5

Missoula at Billings, postponed

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION

Idaho Falls 12-4

Great Falls 12-5

Billings 7-5

Missoula 8-6

Glacier 7-9

SOUTH DIVISION

Ogden 9-6

Northern Colorado 8-7

Grand Junction 7-8

Boise 4-12

Rocky Mountain 2-14

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