Vibes Win High-Scoring Series Finale, Score a Series Win

COLORADO SPRING, Colo. -- Both squads scored in spurts, sending Sunday's series finale into a hit fest that finished 16-12 and provided the Vibes a series victory.

This one wasn't always that close. 

Early in Sunday's squabble, the Owlz (8-9) resembled the squad that lit up Saturday's scoreboard for a 20-run firework show. But after the first, they flamed out for a while.

Meanwhile, the Vibes (8-9) were busy building a lead as large as 10. NoCo did cut down the deficit to two after an eight-run explosion, but that's as close as the birds of prey got the rest of the way.

They have yet to win a series on the road this season.

NoCo cooked up three runs right off the bat. Brandon Crosby clobbered another homer, his first one this year that wasn't a solo shot. Abdel Guadalupe doubled. Ty Lewis did too, getting Guadalupe home in the process. 3-0 Owlz. 

But the Vibes contrived six runs in response. The home team hit around and then some, sending 11 batters to the plate en route to their 6-3 lead after one. 

The first inning took almost 40 minutes. That's how long Owlz starter Tanner Schoeninger (L, 2-4) stuck around. Sunday was Schoeninger's first day off the 10-day IL. He didn't look himself.

The Vibes looked for more runs when Schoeninger stepped away. The scored four the next inning before scoring four more in the fourth. By the end of that inning, the Owlz had used four pitchers. 

That action gave the Vibes their 10-run lead. But the Owlz proved it wasn't over with their most productive inning of the season. Eight runs in the sixth inning ties the top mark for runs in any inning so far. NoCo conked seven hits to do it, giving them a new season high for hits in an inning too.

Yet, it wasn't enough. Especially when Rocky Mountain made the lead four with a pair of insurance runs the very next half inning. The Owlz struck out six times after that eight-run eruption, and they fell short four hits in that same timeframe. 

This game was not short on hits, though. Each team tallied 19 of them. The Owlz 88 hits through six games this series is the most the birds have banked in any series this season

Collectively, NoCo's hitters hammered five doubles and a pair of dingers. Four NoCo hitters had a three-hit game. Ty Lewis and Euro Diaz led the team with three RBI apiece. Lewis' came on three hits, including two doubles. Diaz's came on his first home run of the season. 

The Owlz used six pitchers in Sunday's squabble. The final two that toed the rubber performed best. Chase Wilkerson worked two scoreless innings while striking out three. Like Wilkerson, Chance Benton gave up two hits, but his looking strikeout to end the eighth ensured his one inning of work would be scoreless.

This batter-friendly finale closes the book on an exciting series between South Division rivals. The Owlz and Vibes have played 21 of the 28 games they're currently scheduled to play this year. 

But before any of that, and even before this upcoming home series for that matter, a well-deserved day off. 

Then, it's time to Owlz-out Johnstown for NoCo's first series at Nelson Farm Park. First pitch for the first game of a six-game home series is set for 6:05 p.m.

Click here to get your tickets today. See you Tuesday!