Northern Colorado (28-47, 11-19 second half) was hoping to build on some of the success it had last week, but it was unable to do so.
Instead, it fell in two straight games on Sunday and Monday.
Monday at Grand Junction
One big inning busted the series opener in favor of the Grand Junction Rockies.
The Owlz lost to the new Future Legends team, 11-4, on Monday after a six-run fourth frame.
Grand Junction took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, nabbing a solo home run, an RBI single and an RBI groundout.
The Owlz added a few in the subsequent innings and went into the fourth trailing 4-3.
Grand Junction logged seven hits, including three straight doubles, to end the fourth with a 10-3 advantage. Aside from the Owlz giving up one walk and one wild pitch, the Rockies did most of the offensive damage without extra help.
Both squads scored another run in the fifth, but that was all for the remainder of the night. The Owlz were never able to cut into the Rockies lead or even get on base.
Grand Junction finished with 17 hits to Northern Colorado’s seven. Third baseman Tim Bouchard and center fielder Cameron Phelts were the most effective at the plate, both logging two hits each.
Additionally, the Rockies bullpen was dealing. Alfredo Villa struck out 11 Owlz in five innings of work and walked just two. His relievers continued that hot streak and finished the game with 18 strikeouts and did not give up another free pass.
The Owlz also gave up only two walks, but they ended the game with half the number of strikeouts and added two wild pitches.
Guadalupe was named the South Division Player of the Week after going 11-for-27 at the plate, including three home runs, one double and 10 RBI. In the team’s 19-4 win last Wednesday, he went 4-for-6 with two homers and seven RBI.
The Owlz faced the Rockies on Tuesday night for the second game of the Grand Junction series. At press time, the teams were tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth.
Sunday at Ogden
The Owlz tried to split their series against the Ogden Raptors, but they fell in another walk-off situation.
Northern Colorado lost to Ogden, 5-4, after pitcher William Kirwin gave up a leadoff home run to end the game.
The Raptors scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, also off a home run, but most of the game was a defensive duel. Neither team scored again until the Owlz got on the board in the seventh. Then, the two squads were just trading hits.
Second baseman Brandon Crosby was hit by a pitch to start the seventh and scored when first baseman Ty Lewis tied the game with a home run.
Ogden responded in the bottom half of the frame, putting two runners on with a single and a walk. The Raptors added two more singles to retake the lead.
Designated hitter Abdel Guadalupe accounted for the team’s second home run in the eighth. Unfortunately, the Owlz did not add to their stat line in the ninth.
The NoCo pitchers struck out eight batters, gave up four walks and threw one wild pitch.
The Raptors finished with 12 strikeouts, three walks and three hit batters.
Northern Colorado logged eight hits in the game, compared to Ogden’s six, but it wasn’t able to capitalize. It left eight runners on base.
Meanwhile, the Raptors were able to time their hits effectively and left five on.
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