The Orem Owlz edged out the Great Falls Voyagers 8-4 Monday afternoon at Brent Brown Ballpark after a strong, four-run seventh-inning rally.
Trailing by a run heading into the bottom half of the seventh, the Owlz took the lead for good when a pair of runs scored on an error. Orem added two runs to build a three-run lead heading into the final two innings.
Owlz starting pitcher Ryan Crowley only pitched one inning after coming off a sprained ligament injury in his elbow earlier this month. He struck out one and forced two pop-up fly-outs to right field before being replaced by pitcher Baudilio Lopez.
“I felt good. I switched up to a little different of an angle and my arm felt a lot better,” Crowley said. “I feel normal right now. The quicker I can help us win ball games the better.”
In the bottom of the second, Owlz batters Kaleb Cowart and Frazier Hall both reached base on singles, but the Owlz failed to convert any runs with runners in scoring position. Voyagers starting pitcher Jarrett Casey struck out Owlz catcher Ricky Pacione to end the inning.
Voyagers second baseman Jeffer Patino reached second base with a long shot off the left field wall to start the third inning. Owlz third baseman Kaleb Cowart overthrew first base after Kyle Eveland placed a perfect bunt down the left field line. Patino scored and Eveland advanced to second after a dead ball was called when the ball got tangled in the Voyager bullpen.
Voyagers center fielder Qualon Millender drove in Eveland with a single to left field to put the Voyagers up 2-0. With one out and runners on second and third, Lopez was able to get himself out of a jam, striking out David Herbek and forcing a fly-out to end the inning.
The Owlz first got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Owlz right fielder Ryan Jones launched a ball to deep center field driving home Hall from first base. Andrew Ray then hit a sharp line drive to Voyager third baseman Eveland, who caught Jones off guard at second base, converting the double play. The Owlz trailed 2-1 after four innings.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Orem took its first lead of the game. Designated hitter C.J. Cron launched a two-run home run over the right field wall to drive in Taylor Lindsey. Cron’s home run off of Casey put the Owlz up 3-2 at the end of six innings. Cron leads all Owlz hitters with six home runs in 23 games this season.
“Lindsey had a good at bat [before me] with four straight balls. I knew he [Jarrett Kasey] was going to try come right across the plate too and not want to throw five [balls],” Cron said. “I didn’t try to do to much and put a good swing on it — fastball away.”
The Voyagers battled back in the top of the seventh inning. Catcher Jimmy Jacquot blasted a home run high over the left field wall to tie the game at three. With one out, right fielder Keenyn Walker scored Patino from third on a sacrifice fly to put the Voyagers up 4-3.
The Owlz answered in the bottom of the seventh inning with a four-run rally. Voyager pitcher Blake Drake replaced Casey after six innings and struggled from the mound. Drake walked the first two hitters and then overthrew first base after Drew Martinez placed a short, rolling bunt between the pitcher’s mound and the third base line. Two runs scored, and Martinez advanced to third on the play.
Later in the inning, Cron notched his third RBI of the game with a single to center field. Drake allowed another run before being replaced by Austin Evans. Evans was able to work his way out of the seventh inning, striking out Ryan Jones, with runners left on first and third. The Owlz led 7-4 after seven innings.
The Owlz were able to get an insurance run in the bottom of the eight inning to go up 8-4. With two outs, Lindsey drove home Jerod Yakubik from third with a base-hit single to right field.
Pitcher Danny Reynolds secured the win for the Owlz, forcing a double play and pop-out to center field in the ninth inning. Reynolds pitched the final two innings for the Owlz and got his third save of the season.
“Reynolds came in and had a really good first inning. He got a little tired, but he regrouped and made an adjustment. That just shows maturity. This guy’s made some strides,” Owlz manager Tom Kotchman said. “It was a good team win. We’ll see what happens the rest of the way here.”
Pitcher Juan Carlin notched his second win of the season for the Owlz, while Drake recorded his second loss for the Voyagers. The Owlz improved to 19-15 this season and remain 2 1/2 games behind the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer South Division.
