Late Rally Leads Chukars To Game 2 Win Saturday

MISSOULA, MT- After scoring just 1 run in their last 18 innings opposite the Missoula PaddleHeads, the offense of the Idaho Falls Chukars would be up to the task on Saturday night in Game 2 of a 3 game set. Powered by the long ball, the Idaho Falls attack would keep the Chukars in the game throughout the night. Trailing by 2 in the eighth, Idaho Falls would mount a threat loading the bases with 2 outs. Rookie Michael Kohn would be called upon in the clutch situation and would deliver in the biggest moment. 

With his back against the wall in a 2 strike hole, Kohn would get a pitch he could handle on the inside, launching it over the wall in right center field for a grand slam. This would give Idaho Falls a 2 run advantage to start the final 2 innings of play. The PaddleHeads would be unable to recover from this crushing blow seeing the final 6 batters of the game go down in order allowing Idaho Falls to escape with a 13-11 win. 

Idaho Falls would take their first lead of the series in the top of the 1st thanks to an infield single from Kohn that made the score 1-0. Kohn finished the night 2-for-5 on the night with a game high 5 RBIs. The PaddleHeads offense would have a rebuttal in the early going however taking the lead themselves a short time later. 

Keaton Greenwalt would immediately bring the PaddleHeads level with a double into left center field to even things up at 1 to jump start a 3 run rally. A single from Jared Akins, and a double from Dondrei Hubbard would later give Missoula their first lead standing at 3-1. Hubbard knocked in a pair as part of a 2-for-5 performance and Akins finished 1-for-3. 

The Chukars would climb their way back to the lead in the 2nd and 3rd innings thanks to the home run ball. Zach May would cut into the PaddleHeads lead in the second inning with a solo shot to make the score 3-2. In the next inning, home runs from Mark Herron Jr., and Robert Paller would put Idaho Falls back in front 6-3. Both offenses would go back and forth however in the middle innings with the lead exchanging hands as time went on. 

Jake Guenther would get the PaddleHeads on the comeback trail in the 4th with an RBI single to cut the Chukar lead to 2. Later in the frame with 2-outs Cameron Thompson would provide a clutch swing with a pair of runners on hitting a 3-run blast to put Missoula right back on top by a score of 7-6. Guenther would finish with 3 RBIs as part of a 2-for-4 performance and Thompson was 1-for-4. 

With the game tied at 8 entering the 6th, the PaddleHeads offense would strike one last time to grab a 3 run advantage. Guenther would give Missoula the lead to start the inning on a sacrifice fly. A second run would also score in that sequence on an error. Hubbard would later knock in another run with a base hit to make the score 11-8. This would not be enough on this night however as Kohn's grand slam 2 innings later would prove to be the knockout blow on this Saturday night. 

The PaddleHeads (22-7) saw their lead shrink to 5 games in the Pioneer League North standings over the Range Riders after the dust settled Saturday. Idaho Falls (12-17) will hope this momentum will propel them toward a series win Sunday in the rubber match of a 3 game set Sunday afternoon. Action from Allegiance Field is set to begin at 2:05 p.m. If you cannot make it to the park. Listen in on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.