The Ogden Raptors faced another tough loss on Wednesday night against the Missoula Paddleheads, falling 11-5 at Lindquist Field. Despite the defeat, there were some bright spots for the struggling Raptors.
Newly signed starter David Reckers pitched four innings for Ogden, with three solid innings and one rough inning that made the difference in the game. In the second inning, Reckers struggled, allowing seven runs to give Missoula a commanding lead.
On the offensive side, right fielder Pearce Howard continued to shine for the Raptors, hitting two doubles and scoring twice. Howard, who entered the game hitting .467, also drove in a run and made a key defensive play by throwing out a runner trying to advance.
Designated hitter Chris Sargent also contributed with a double that drove in Howard in the eighth inning. Despite the loss, the Raptors showed some fight by adding two RBI singles in the ninth inning before Missoula closed out the game.
Pitching remains a challenge for Ogden, but relievers Christian Griffin and Quinn Waterhouse stood out with strong performances out of the bullpen. Griffin struck out three batters in 1 2/3 innings, while Waterhouse added two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
The two teams will meet again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. as the Raptors look to bounce back and secure a much-needed win. Despite their struggles, the team remains determined to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs.