Raptors can’t keep up with Glacier in series opener Tuesday
Chris Sargent hit a two-run homer in the first inning to get the Ogden Raptors ahead but the good vibes wouldn’t last in an 8-4 defeat to Glacier on Tuesday at Lindquist Field, opening the first of a six-game series to conclude the 2024 regular season.
Glacier only outhit Ogden 12-11 but was 5 of 15 with runners in scoring position compared to 1 of 7 for the home team.
The Range Riders (46-45, 17-26 second half), who are preparing for the playoffs next week due to their first-half berth, got all the runs they’d need and more against Ogden (38-53, 16-27) starter Matthew Hess.
Ben Fitzgerald got Glacier on the board with a solo homer in the third; when Kingston Liniak hit an RBI double to cap that frame, the visitors led 3-2.
Liniak hit a solo shot off Hess in the fifth, then drove in a run credited to Hess on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. That put Glacier up 7-2.
Hess gave up those seven runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one.
Ogden’s answers — True Fontenot’s RBI groundout in the seventh and Pearce Howard’s run-scoring single in the eighth — were too late.
Glacier starter Cooper Benson got the win, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings, striking out six and walking one. Christian Kirtley hit 3 for 5 and drove in two for the visitors.
Sargent, Howard, Connor Bagnieski and Elliott Good each had two hits for Ogden. Brayden Bonner faced the minimum in 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
The two teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lindquist Field.