NoCo Strokes Seven in Second to Secure Second-Straight Win

GREELEY, Colo. -- NoCo pasted Vibes pitching with persistence Thursday, prevailing at home for the second-straight evening.

The Owlz (2-5) sprinkled 15 hits across their eight innings of offense to win 13-7 over Rocky Mountain (1-7). They tagged two triples, including Brian Dansereau's second in as many nights. Overall, NoCo nailed seven extra-base hits, just a few shy of the 10 they had entering the game. 

A seven-run second inning served as the crown jewel. Ty Lewis led it off with a double before the next seven consecutive swingers got on base. Robbie Kellerman singled, his first hit in Owlz pinstripes, to score Lewis, and then the Vibes intentionally walked Mike Annone to get to Dansereau. (Read the previous paragraph, and you can probably guess that turned into a bad idea.) Dansereau danced around three bases for that triple, earning two RBI as he did. After that, a pair of sac flies plated another pair, and Lewis capped the inning with another base knock, this one an RBI single. 

Through seven games, the first three innings have been very good to the Owlz. So much so that they've scored 32 of their 54 total runs this season in those innings.

After showing off in the second, NoCo led 7-1, and the lead would never get smaller than four runs after that. But it wasn't just that second-inning surge: the Owlz added their remaining six runs over the next four innings, including a three-spot in the fourth. 

And it wasn't just the offensive attack, either. Starter Alex Smith struck out four and allowed two earned runs through four innings of work. Smith was spelled by Austin Schneider (W, 1-1), who shoved even harder. In 3.2 innings, Schneider's longest outing this season, he fanned five and surrendered two hits. He, too, allowed only two earned runs. 

In the end, just four of the seven Rocky Mountain runs were earned. The Owlz committed six errors on Thursday, their highest mark in any game this season. 

At the end, Chandellor Benton brought it from the bump. It was his first appearance as an Owl, and he lasted a wonderful 1.1 innings that included one swinging strikeout.

Three batters bashed three hits in the game, accounting for nine of the club's 15 hits. Those three were Cameron Phelts (3-for-4 with three RBI), Lewis (3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, his best game since the season opener), and also Zach West (3-for-4 with two runs). 

Every starter reached base safely in this one. Just two of them didn't get a hit, but they each reached via a walk.  

Thursday's win wasn't a total walk in the park, but the Owlz are walking tall after consecutive wins. Their first chance at a streak this season will come Friday. Same time (4:05 p.m.), same place (Jackson Field).