The Ogden Raptors lost their third straight contest as the playoffs approach, opening the final series of the regular season with a 5-2 loss at Northern Colorado on Monday afternoon.

Ogden totaled five hits in the loss. Alejandro Rivero singled in Jesus Valdez to make it 2-1 in the fourth but, by the time the Raptors scored again, it was 5-2 when Kevin Elefante singled in Freddy Achecar in the seventh.

Chase Stratton’s run of 10 1/3 scoreless innings as a starter ended in the first when Tim Bouchard singled in Abdel Guadalupe to put the Owlz ahead. The Ogden left-hander allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Riley Ottesen finished the game with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits.

But Ottesen’s shutdown relief performance wasn’t enough as Ogden couldn’t break through against NoCo starter Spenser Dexter, who gave up one earned run on five hits in seven innings.

Kyle Adkins and Christian Griffin each pitched scoreless, hitless innings to close the game for the Owlz.

Elsewhere around the Pioneer League, the Missoula Paddleheads have clinched home-field advantage for the PBL championships series. The Paddleheads already had home-field advantage for the North Divisional series by winning the North’s first half. Billings beat Idaho Falls in a series that will decide who claims the North’s final playoff spot.

Ogden is already locked into a South Divisional Series with Grand Junction scheduled for Sept. 12, 14-15.

MONDAY SCORES

Northern Colorado 5, Ogden 2

Rocky Mountain 8, Grand Junction 7

Billings 5, Idaho Falls 2

Missoula 5, Boise 4

Glacier 8, Great Falls 3

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half – 5 games left

NORTH DIVISION

*^Missoula 31-12 (66-24 overall)

Billings 24-19 (49-40)

Idaho Falls 21-21 (48-42)

Glacier 19-23 (36-53)

Great Falls 17-24 (44-44)

SOUTH DIVISION

^Grand Junction 31-11 (57-33)

Rocky Mountain 22-20 (37-51)

*Ogden 20-23 (49-42)

Northern Colorado 17-26 (34-54)

Boise 10-32 (27-63)

*-1st-half champion

^-2nd-half champion

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