Owlz Lose Slugfest, 12-11
August 16, 2014 - Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release
The Owlz hot bats early on weren't enough to keep the Mustangs from the 12-11 win on Friday night, as Orem gave up the lead late in the game.
Facing starting pitcher Keynan Middleton, Billings got on the board early in the top of the first inning as Aristides Aquino tripled, scoring Brian O'Grady, who singled earlier in the inning and Aquino scored later on a throwing error by Raul Linares.
Orem answered back, facing pitcher Tyler Mahle, to tie the game in the bottom of the inning as Fran Whitten doubled, his fourth on the season, scoring Raul Linares and Andrew Daniel.
The runs didn't end here as Billings retook a 3-2 lead in the top of the second-inning as Alex Greer scored on a Cory Thompson ground out.
The Owlz continued to ignite the stadium as they battled back in the bottom of the inning as Raul Linares singled to score Tyler Palmer, tying the game at three.
A quick one, two, three top of the third-inning allowed for Orem to get back into the batter's box quickly and sought to take the lead. Fran Whitten reached after being hit by a pitch and Tyler Palmer later reached on a fielder's choice. Both scored on a fielding error by shortstop Alberti Chavez, who replaced Cory Thompson at the beginning of the half-inning, giving the Owlz a 5-3 lead.
The battle wasn't over as the Mustangs came back in the top of the fourth-inning to score four more runs. With a rally in the bottom of the fourth, the Owlz pulled ahead again to take the lead 9-8 in a combined effort off a Fran Whitten home run and a Tyler Palmer double, scoring Michael Strentz and Wade Wass.
The Mustangs answered back as Brian O'Grady crushed a homerun deep to centerfield in the top of the sixth-inning, tying the game 9-9. They would increase their lead to 12-9 in the top of the eighth-inning.
The Owlz' bats were frozen until the bottom of the eighth-inning as Fran Whitten tripled and later scored. However, the two runs scored during the inning were not enough to put the Mustangs away, as they went on to win the first game of the series 12-11.
The second game of the series will be played Saturday at Brent Brown Ballpark at 7:05 P.M.
Pioneer League Stories from August 16, 2014
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- Early Homers Not Enough for Great Falls - Great Falls Voyagers
- Voyagers Game Notes: August 16 at Grand Junction - Great Falls Voyagers
- RHP Connor Walsh promoted to Low-A Kannapolis - Great Falls Voyagers
- Owlz Lose Slugfest, 12-11 - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Ninth Inning Blasts Lift Voyagers Past Rockies - Great Falls Voyagers
- Rain Can't Slow Down Brewers - Helena Brewers
- Brewers Ruin Holmes Debut - Ogden Raptors
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