Errors costly as Owlz fall to Brewers

OREM — This time, extra innings didn't go so well for the Orem Owlz.

One night after earning a dramatic victory in the 12th inning against Missoula, the error-prone Owlz played the Helena Brewers even through nine innings before falling in the 10th, 5-3, Thursday.

The Brewers, who boast the best record in the Pioneer League and are on top of the North Division standings, erupted for three runs in the 10th thanks in large part to three Owlz miscues.

The damage inflicted on Orem in that frame began when, with Francis Abreu on the mound and the score deadlocked at 2-2, Helena's Agustin Septimo reached first, and advanced to second base, on an error.

One batter later, Brewer catcher Angel Salome belted a deep fly ball that sailed over the head of rightfielder Colby Overstreet. The hit plated Septimo to give Helena the lead, 3-2.

Then Brendan Katin singled home Salome to make the score 4-2. The Brewers added one more insurance run on an errant throw by shortstop Hainley Statia, who was attempting a double play. On the same sequence, first baseman Mark Trumbo made an errant throw to home plate.

When the dust settled, Helena had seized a relatively comfortable 5-2 advantage and the official scorekeeper had given Orem two errors on the play.

For the game, the Owlz committed five errors.

In their half of the 10th, the Owlz threw a bit of a scare into the Brewers as pinch hitter Josh Cowles got hit by a pitch and then stole second. With two outs, Dallas Morris doubled him home on a looping fly ball that landed just inside the right field line.

But the rally was short-lived as Trumbo grounded out to end the game.

With the loss, Orem fell to 15-15 while Helena improved to 21-8.

The setback spoiled a solid outing for Owlz starter Stephen Marek, who surrendered only one run in five innings of work.

The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before Billy Boyer got the Owlz on the scoreboard in the third with a leadoff home run. Two innings later, Boyer's sacrifice fly lifted Orem to a 2-1 edge.

In the top of the sixth, the Brewers pulled even. The game remained knotted until the 10th.

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