Owlz End First Half with Split against Grand Junction

By Skyler Timmins

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- With temperatures in the triple digits, Northern Colorado Owlz managed just enough offense to end the first half of the season by splitting a doubleheader with the Grand Junction Rockies. 

Game 1

Facing off against Josh Agnew (W, 5-2), the ace for the Grand Junction Rockies, NoCo looked to rebound offensively from Saturday's game, but that turned out to be a tall order as the Owlz fell victim to the league leader in strikeouts 10 times as he tossed a seven-inning complete game in a 6-3 victory over the Owlz in the first game of Sunday's twin bill. 

The Owlz (16-28) got their offense rolling in the second inning when Kevin Higgins led things off with a single to right field. Matt Turner, playing at his old stomping grounds, followed up with a single of his own. Following a fielder's choice from Zach West, Robbie Kellerman ripped a single to left to drive in Turner for the first run of the game. 

Grand Junction (26-21) would then cough up a couple of runs on a costly error. NoCo catcher Marshall Rich tapped a grounder to second, but in an effort to turn the double-play, Alex Nielsen sailed the ball into the outfield allowing West to score. On the next batter, Agnew sailed a pitch to the backstop to score Kellerman, giving the Owlz an early 3-0 lead. 

Kida De La Cruz started on the mound for the Owlz and battled with his command through three innings of work, allowing just two runs on two hits while tallying five punchouts, and ended up walking four batters. 

The Rockies would get back within one in the bottom half of the third inning, taking advantage of a couple of walks issued by De La Cruz, and a two-run double by Casey Petersen to make it a 3-2 Owlz lead. The Rockies came close to taking the lead on a deep drive to centerfield by Josh Elvir, Johnny Carr in his professional debut with the Owlz, chased it down to make the catch on the warning track. 

Chance Benton (L,1-2) took over for De La Cruz in the fourth inning and breezed through the inning, but he ran into some trouble in the fifth. After getting two quick outs, Benton induced a groundball off the bat of Caleb Farmer. Brandon Crosby scooped the ball smoothly in what should have ended the inning but instead threw the ball away in a costly error. Benton walked the next two batters and left the game with the bases loaded. 

The Owlz turned to Chase Wilkerson to get out of the inning, but on the first pitch to Elvir, he sent a ball off the top of the wall in right-centerfield to drive in two runs and give the Rockies a 4-3 lead. 

The Rockies aimed for more insurance in the bottom of the sixth, facing off against Austin Orvis in his Owlz debut. After a single by Nielsen and another walk issued to Tyler Sandoval, his third of the game, the Owlz once again turned to a new pitcher in Ben Strahm. Facing Nico Popa, Strahm hit the batter and loaded the bases with Caleb Farmer coming up with one out. After getting Farmer to fly out, Casey Petersen struck again with a two-run single to center field to give the Rockies a 6-3 lead. The Owlz would go down quietly in the seventh, handing them their fourth loss of the series.

Game 2

In a game that featured minimal offense and some gritty at-bats by NoCo, it was Manny Rosario (W, 1-0) that shined on the hill. Through five innings, Rosario allowed one run on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Three of those walks came in the first inning, after which, Rosario locked the Rockies down, allowing just three hits across his next four innings of work to help the Owlz (17-28) end the first half with a 3-1 victory. 

The Owlz struck first once again in the second game thanks to a Cam Phelts lead-off double to start the first inning. He would then swipe third base and scored on a groundout by Matt Turner to give NoCo a quick 1-0 lead. Grand Junction would return the favor in the bottom half with three walks and an RBI single in the inning to notch things back up at one apiece. 

The Owlz managed to load the bases in the top of the second, but Grand Junction (26-22) starter Alex Smith retired both Phelts and Turner on via the strikeout to keep things tied. The Owlz had a chance in the fourth inning to blow things open after taking the lead on a Robbie Kellerman single to chase Alex Smith (L,0-1)  from the game after 3.1 innings. They managed to load the bases, but  Clay Wisner came out of the bullpen to strike out Turner and get Tim Bouchard to hit a line drive to short to end the inning. In the game, NoCO went 0-for-5 with the bases loaded.

Eventually, something has to give though right? 

The very next inning the Owlz again strung together a couple of hits to put two men in scoring position with one out. Facing Gaylan Young, Zach West managed to draw a walk to load the bases for Euro Diaz. Once again, Young would walk Diaz to force in a run and extend the lead 3-1 for the Owlz. Kellerman would hit into an inning-ending double play, but the team's pitching was up for the challenge to hold the lead.

Austin Schneider got the call to shut the door and he rose to the occasion by blowing past Grand Junction with two scoreless frames to record his first save of the season and secure the Owlz victory.

The Owlz managed to squeeze runs across with the opportunities despite some strong pitching and defensive wizardry in the infield by the Rockies. They took advantage of six walks while scattering six hits. They went 4-for-7 leading off an inning, but only went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Up Next

The Owlz will head to Colorado Springs to play a three-game set against Rocky Mountain starting on Wednesday, before beginning a nine-day homestand on Friday against Rocky Mountain and the Billings Mustangs. 

 For tickets to the next homestand, visit this link. Or feel free to walk right up to the box office the day of the game.

See you next time. Go Owlz!