OGDEN — Two games into the season, it’s difficult to tell if the Northern Colorado Owlz, who brought back a bunch of returning players, are an excellent offensive team or if the Ogden Raptors already need a pitching reset.

A night after the Owlz totaled 15 hits and 11 walks at the plate in a 14-9 victory, the visitors upped the ante Wednesday in a 22-9 win by racking up 37 baserunners — 19 hits, 16 walks and two hit batters.

Northern Colorado (2-0) led wire to wire after Henry George hit a solo homer to the UTOG patio beyond the right-field fence in the first inning.

Ogden’s Nick Ultsch singled, stole second and scored on a Chris Sargent single for a 2-1 score after one inning. The Raptors wouldn’t score again until it was 14-1.

Ogden (0-2) starter Trae Robertson gave up 12 earned runs on nine hits, three walks and two hit batters — including eight of the 10 runs Northern Colorado plated in the third inning alone — in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Michael Castillo was on the hook for the final two runs in the third, then gave up seven more on seven hits and seven walks. Owlz designated hitter Dave Matthews doubled in runs for the second straight inning, and Euro Diaz doubled in a run to finish a five-run fifth that ballooned the score to 21-2.

Bruce Yamamoto allowed one run in the sixth before Ogden got lefty Quinn Waterhouse some game action. Waterhouse walked one but struck out two in a clean inning.

The Raptors handed the ball to position player Chuck Steele for the final two innings and he mixed offspeed and ultra-offspeed pitches to success, allowing only one hit, one walk and zero runs to close the game.

Matthews batted 5 for 6 with three doubles and five RBIs to lead the Owlz. George drove in four runs. Leadoff hitter Dario Gomez scored five times.

In two games, Matthews is 9 for 10 with six RBIs and six runs scored. George is 6 for 9 with eight RBIs.

Shortstop Connor Bagnieski hit 2 for 3 with three RBIs to lead Ogden. Raymond Gil was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.

The teams continue the six-game series with Game 3 at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

AROUND THE PIONEER LEAGUE

While the Oakland Ballers are 2-0 with another one-run victory at Glacier, the other California expansion team has run into problems. Tuesday’s season opener for the Yolo High Wheelers in Davis, California, was suspended after six innings due to issues with lights not working properly at the ballpark.

That game was resumed Wednesday evening and Yolo defeated Rocky Mountain 10-7. But according to info on Yolo’s X account and from an audio broadcast of Wednesday’s action, it seems Yolo’s games Thursday through Saturday simply won’t be played, and the series will conclude Sunday afternoon. Information is scant and it’s unclear why the two teams can’t play day games to continue the series.

WEDNESDAY SCORES

Northern Colorado 22, Ogden 9

Great Falls 17, Billings 14

Boise 12, Grand Junction 5

Oakland 3, Glacier 2

Yolo 10, Rocky Mountain 7

Missoula at Idaho Falls, rescheduled for May 23

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Through May 22

Boise 2-0

Northern Colorado 2-0

Oakland 2-0

Idaho Falls 1-0

Yolo 1-0

Billings 1-1

Great Falls 1-1

Missoula 0-1

Rocky Mountain 0-1

Glacier 0-2

Grand Junction 0-2

Ogden 0-2

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