Ogden pitchers held Owlz hot hitters Henry George and Dave Matthews in check but the Raptors couldn’t produce enough runs to keep up with Northern Colorado, losing 9-3 on Thursday night at Lindquist Field to fall to 0-3 in the opening week of the Pioneer Baseball League.

For a few frames, it appeared big right-hander Matthew Hess was going to turn the tide for Ogden after the Raptors gave up 36 runs in the first two games of the series. With a 0-0 score in the third, Hess recorded his fifth strikeout through just 2 1/3 innings.

But Kevin Santiago and Brandon Trammell hit consecutive doubles in what became a four-run inning for the Owlz to take control of the game.

Trammell and Jackson Coutts filled in for George and Matthews, who came back to earth after combining for 15 hits through two games. Trammell finished 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Coutts hit 2 for 5 with three RBIs after smashing a two-run homer in the ninth off Gabriel Pacheco. Northern Colorado outhit Ogden 19-10 for the game.

The Raptors did answer in the bottom of the third. Nick Ultsch singled in Chuck Steele and Chris Sargent doubled two runs home to cut it to 4-3.

Clearfield native and lefty Chase Stratton limited the Owlz to one run on five hits over three innings. But Jackson Smith took over in the seventh and allowed two runs, building the lead to 7-3 as the Raptors struggled to produce offense.

Right fielder Pearce Howard continued to build a strong start to his season at the plate, hitting 4 for 5 while scoring a run and stealing a base from the leadoff spot. Ultsch and Sargent each had two hits.

The two teams play Game 4 of the series at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Newsletter