Quite the opposite from Wednesday night’s first-half-title-clinching, 11-9 slugfest in which Ogden prevailed, the Raptors gripped on to a pitchers’ duel victory Thursday night at Linquist Field.

Ogden’s Mitchell Stone outpitched Rocky Mountain’s Christian Day and the Vibes left the bases loaded in the ninth as the Raptors claimed a 3-2 win in front of 4,684 fans.

The Raptors are now 30-16 this season, setting a new high watermark for wins in a half in the independent era. Ogden went 29-19 in the first half of both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Stone threw into the eighth inning having given up just one run before an error helped Rocky Mountain tie the game 2-2. Joe Encarnacion reached via a Rafael Narea error and later scored against Brandon McCabe, who came on in relief, when Casey Petersen grounded out.

Stone (4-4) finished allowing one earned run in 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking two while giving up five hits.

Former Raptor starter Day was nearly as good. He, too, pitched into the eighth and ran into trouble. With the game now tied, Ogden catcher Coleton Horner led off with a double.

Another former Raptor in Jack Cunningham came on in relief and Riley Ottesen pinch-ran for Horner. Reese Alexiades advanced Ottesen to third with a sacrifice fly and Ottesen scored on a wild pitch.

Day (2-4) threw seven-plus innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two while taking the loss.

Ogden’s ace closer Dan Kubiuk threw the final inning for the second straight night and against all odds threw 36 pitches, allowed three singles and earned the save to finish a 3-2 victory.

Though he got Elvis Peralta to strike out, Kubiuk gave up singles to Ethan Lopez, David Martinez and finally Jacob Barfield to load the bases as Barfield’s was an infield single to short.

Brandon Crosby then lined out to second and Kubiuk got Steve Barmakian to ground out to Narea at third. Kubiuk’s seventh save leads the Pioneer League.

Peralta hit a solo homer in the second to put RMV up 1-0 and record the only earned run against Stone.

Ogden took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Dane Tofteland grounded out to score Cam Phelts, then Nick Ultsch doubled to score Damian Henderson. Ultsch was Ogden’s only multi-hit batter of the night, going 2 for 2 as the designated hitter.

The two teams finish their series, and the first half, with games at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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