The good: Nick Ultsch hit the first home run for the Ogden Raptors this season.

The bad: Ogden’s starting pitcher didn’t record an out.

The ugly: the Northern Colorado Owlz nearly doubled their run production in the final two innings as the Raptors limped to the finish with three position players taking turns on the mound.

Henry George, Dave Matthews and company brought the pain yet again for the 4-0 Owlz, punishing the Raptors to a 0-4 mark with a 20-1 walloping Friday night at Lindquist Field.

George and Matthews each homered in an eight-run first inning that pushed starter LJ Diaz off the field with the “OUTS” section of the scoreboard still reading “0.”

Northern Colorado led 11-0 before Ultsch hit a solo shot to left-center in the seventh inning.

The Raptors sent infielder Chris Sargent to the mound in the eighth and Owlz shortstop Garrett Kueber started the visitors’ second eight-run inning of the contest with a home run. Sargent gave up six runs and fellow infielder Landen Barns allowed two more before securing the final out of the eighth.

Chuck Steele, another position player, made his second pitching appearance of the series by throwing the ninth inning; Dario Gomez hit a solo homer to finish the scoring, Northern Colorado’s fifth dinger of the night.

George finished 6 for 6 with three RBIs in Northern Colorado’s leadoff spot. Matthews was 3 for 4 with five RBIs.

NoCo outhit Ogden 22-7. Seven different Raptors tallied one hit apiece, with Ultsch’s homer and a double from Connor Bagnieski representing the extra-basers.

George is 12 for 21 with 12 RBIs in the four games of the series, and Matthews crashed into the season’s start an even hotter 14 for 19 (with 11 RBIs). The Owlz are hitting .417 as a team and lead the Pioneer League in runs scored, home runs, doubles and walks.

The series finishes with a 6:30 p.m. Saturday matchup and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.

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