The visiting Ogden Raptors pounced on Missoula early and hit nearly as many doubles as the home team had total hits in a 12-3 victory over the PaddleHeads on Thursday to open a three-game series between first-place teams from each of the Pioneer League’s two divisions.

Cameron Phelts hit 4 for 6, Juan Teixeira was 3 for 5 with three RBIs and those two and Nick Ultsch combined to score eight of Ogden’s 12 runs at the top of the order.

Phelts, Teixeira, Logan Williams, Dane Tofteland, Dakota Conners and Rafael Narea hit one double apiece as the Raptors outhit the PaddleHeads 18-7.

Brock Gilliam added another stake to his claim as the ace for Ogden (25-14), allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out seven in a seven-inning start.

Ultsch, Phelts and Teixeira opened the game with consecutive singles against Missoula (29-11) starter Austin Dill. Teixeira, Damian Henderson and Conners knocked RBI singles to make it 3-0 in the first inning.

A Phelts RBI double made it 5-0 in the top of the fourth before Missoula got its only damage against Gilliam, loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth with two hits and a walk. Jared Akins grounded into a potential inning-ending double play but after one out at second base, a throwing error by Conners meant two runs crossed the plate instead.

It was a blip in an otherwise dominant performance for Ogden. Teixeira hit a two-run double and Tofteland a sacrifice fly to make the score 9-2 through six innings. Williams and Tofteland hit consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth, followed by a Narea sacrifice fly, for a 12-2 tally.

The two teams finish the series Friday and Saturday.

Ogden remains 3 1/2 games in first place in the South Division with nine games remaining in the first half. Missoula’s lead in the North is five games with eight remaining.

THURSDAY SCORES

Ogden 12, Missoula 3

Boise 17, Northern Colorado 4

Rocky Mountain 12, Grand Junction 10

Glacier 15, Billings 4

Idaho Falls 14, Great Falls 9

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Through July 6

NORTH DIVISION

Missoula 29-11

Glacier 23-15

Billings 18-22

Idaho Falls 14-26

Great Falls 13-25

SOUTH DIVISION

Ogden 25-14

Boise 22-18

Northern Colorado 19-20

Grand Junction 17-23

Rocky Mountain 16-22

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