An Ogden Raptors player hit a grand slam for the third consecutive game and a strong pitching performance got Ogden back in the win column in an 8-2 victory at Idaho Falls on Saturday night.

Right-hander Brock Gilliam took a shutout into the eighth inning for Ogden (22-12), ultimately allowing one earned run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings, strikeout out seven and walking one.

Jack Dicenso kept pace for Idaho Falls (13-22) for a few innings but unraveled in the fourth and fifth frames.

Dakota Conners scored on an error before outfielder Nick Ultsch hit a two-run homer to put the Raptors ahead 3-0 through four innings.

Before Dicenso could record an out in the fifth inning, third baseman Rafael Narea launched a grand slam to put Ogden ahead 7-0.

Conners singled in Juan Teixeira to make it 8-0 in the top of the eighth before the Chukars finally got on the board. Gilliam put two runners on and Michael Kohn singled them in against Ogden reliever Chase Stratton to break the shutout.

Stratton otherwise threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings to close the game.

Ultsch hit 3 for 6 in the win and Damian Henderson was 3 for 4 with a double.

Gilliam is now 6-1 (tied for most pitching wins in the league) with a 3.92 ERA and a second-best 49 strikeouts leaguewide.

The teams conclude the series with a rubber match Sunday. On the line: Ogden's streak of not losing any series so far this season.

The Raptors, winners in 12 of their last 15 games, improved their lead in the South Division first-half race to 3 1/2 games after Boise's loss Saturday.

SATURDAY SCORES

Ogden 8, Idaho Falls 2

Great Falls 12, Boise 9

Rocky Mountain 13, Grand Junction 12 (via Knockout)

Northern Colorado 12, Billings 11 (via Knockout)

Glacier 9, Missoula 8

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Through July 1

NORTH DIVISON

Missoula 26-9

Glacier 20-13

Billings 16-19

Idaho Falls 13-22

Great Falls 10-23

SOUTH DIVISION

Ogden 22-12

Boise 19-16

Northern Colorado 17-17

Grand Junction 15-20

Rocky Mountain 13-20

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