The tiebreaking home run contest, pioneered by the Pioneer League, pitted Raptors catcher Chris Sargent against Paddleheads outfielder Adam Fogel. Sargent is second in the league in RBIs while Fogel is second in home runs; even more notably, Fogel is the PBL single-season home run king after swatting 35 last season and missing the triple crown by 10 RBIs.

But for one night, Sargent was king. After hitting 4 for 5 during the regulation nine innings to raise his average to .386, Sargent best Fogel 4-3 in the Knockout Round to give the Raptors a 10-9 victory.

The decision improved Ogden to 24-18 this season. Oakland (33-10) and Missoula (30-13) are both playing to try and win the first half (five games remaining) while also holding onto the top two spots and their associated playoff berths with Yuba-Sutter (28-14) and Idaho Falls (26-16) still in contention. Oakland has won 12 straight and is nearing the first-half title with Missoula’s defeat Tuesday.

The two teams play again Wednesday.

Though Ogden infielder True Fontenot homered in the first for a 1-0 lead, Missoula eventually answered against Raptors starter Shane Gustafson to take a 4-1 lead in the fifth, keyed by a Colby Wilkerson two-run double.

The Raptors finally broke through against Paddleheads starter Michael Peterson in the bottom of the fifth. Sargent singled in a run, as did Kyler Stancato, before a Connor Bagnieski bases-loaded walk and Damian Stone driving in two more with a double, putting the home team ahead 6-4.

Sargent singled in one more run in the sixth to extend that lead to 8-4. But Ogden reliever Christian Ciuffetelli issued four walks in 1/3 of an inning, helping Missoula cut it to 8-7 after seven.

Fogel doubled in a run in the eighth and later scored on an incomplete double play to put Missoula up 9-8.

Ogden closer Nik Cardinal used seven pitches to retire Missoula in order in the top of the ninth, dropping his ERA to 0.87 and keeping his team within a run. But Zac Lampton appeared to have the Raptors down for good, getting Stone and Kenny Oyama to fly out to open the bottom of the ninth.

Cole Jordan beat out an infield single to keep hope alive and Carmine Lane delivered on the hope with a double to deep center field, scoring Jordan to tie it 9-9. Elliott Good, recently reactivated from the injured list, couldn’t cash in the winner and struck out swinging, sending the contest to the Knockout Round.

Good otherwise hit 3 for 4 on the night. Stone, Jordan and Lane each had two hits, with Lane doubling twice.

Missoula had five batters with two hits, including Fogel with two doubles. Fogel, Wilkerson and Kamron Willman each drove in two.