A weekend split and series win isn’t a bad way to end a six-game home stand.
The Northern Colorado Owlz (7-4) won its Saturday contest to the Great Falls Voyagers (4-6), 9-8, and lost in a wild 21-14 contest on Sunday.
Game 1
The Owlz staved off a comeback attempt from the Voyagers during its first weekend game, thanks to a game-ending double play.
NoCo’s pitching staff and defense held the Voyagers scoreless for five innings. Austin Schneider started the day well, contributing three scoreless frames and one run in the third. Schneider, however, struggled in the fifth and sixth innings and was accountable for six Great Falls runs.
Cory Wills allowed another run in the top of the eighth, but Keon Taylor and Michael Slaten combined for the win and save, respectively.
The Owlz’s offensive production helped carry the team to the win, recording 15 hits. Six players recorded two hits or more, while outfielders Euro Diaz and Dave Matthews contributed two RBI each.
NoCo had the opportunity to add a few more runs, but the team left nine men stranded. Still, it did just enough to earn the one-run victory.
Game 2
Things didn’t go as well in the second game of the weekend after the bullpen collapsed against the Voyagers’ bats.
Northern Colorado lost to Great Falls, 21-14, after giving up nine runs in the eighth and six in the ninth for 14 total runs. The Owlz had led 13-4 through five.
Two errors didn’t help matters, but the loss can primarily be attributed to the pitching. Manager Frank Gonazles previously said the team would like to see better starts, more consistency and competitive pitches as the season progresses.
Even with the late-game struggles, the pitching staff had an OK start. It wasn’t perfect, but of the first five innings, no runs crossed in the third and one crossed in each of the remaining four. Additionally, the bullpen pitched 33 more strikes than balls in the outing. The Voyagers, however, read the pitches well and capitalized effectively.
The Owlz batters shined in the first half of the game, taking the early lead. Multiple players had stuffed stat lines with multiple runs, hits and RBI. Plus, everyone in the lineup reached base in some way. The offense went cold in the final frames, though, and made it difficult to keep up.
Northern Colorado returns to action at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at the Rocky Mountain Vibes for a three-game series before playing at Grand Junction. The team’s next home game is set for 7:05 p.m. June 16.
Notable stats of the weekend
Game 1
- Abdel Guadalupe: 3 R, 3 H, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR
- Dave Matthews: 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Austin Schneider: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
- Owlz batting: 9 R, 15 H, 9 RBI, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 2 SB, 4 K, 9 LOB
- Voyagers batting: 8 R, 9 H, 7 RBI, 2 2B, 7 BB, 1 SB, 1 CS, 8 K, 6 LOB
Game 2
- Dave Matthews: 2 R, 3 H, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR
- Jackson Coutts: 2 R, 3 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR
- Jacob Walker: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
- Owlz batting: 14 R, 18 H, 14 RBI, 4 2B, 4 HR, 9 BB, 7 SB, 6 K, 10 LOB
- Voyagers batting: 21 R, 22 H, 21 RBI, 6 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 2 SB 5 K, 11 LOB
