Hisky Hits Walk Off Single in Chukars 6-5 Victory

IDAHO FALLS, ID - With runners at first and third in the bottom of the ninth, Hunter Hisky connected for a walk-off single to win it for the Idaho Falls Chukars (22-15) over the Great Falls Voyagers (21-16) 6-5 on Wednesday night at Melaleuca Field. The win grants the Chukars sole possesion of second place in the North Division, behind the Missoula Paddleheads.

The Voyagers opened the scoring in the opening frame against Jack Dicenso. Breydon Daniel doubled to left field to leadoff the game, and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Voyagers an early 1-0 lead. In the second, Great Falls added on more to the lead on an RBI triple, double, and single to grow their lead 4-0 over the Chukars. 

Idaho Falls was kept off the board by Voyagers' starter Matt Thomas until the fifth. With one out. Jose Reyes belted an opposite field homer into left field to cut into the deficit, 4-1. His homer managed to fire up the bats as the Chukars loaded the bases on an Aldo Buendia single, a Brendan Hueth double that bounced off second base and a Hisky walk. Calvin Estrada stepped to the plate, and worked himself into a 3-0 count. On the next pitch, Estrada crushed a grand slam, the fourth hit by the Chukars and the second of the series to give the Chukars a 5-4 lead over Great Falls. 

A pitcher's duel then ensued between both bullpens. Dicenso worked until the seventh when he was pulled for Victor Rodriguez after allowing the tying and go-ahad runs on base. Rodriguez kept the Chukars in the lead with two strikeouts and a flyout to keep the score as is.

In the eighth, Hueth made a diving catch in center field to rob Michael Deeb of a base hit. Jon Nunnally Jr took to the mound, working around two walks to preserve the Chukars lead. 

Nate Jenkins (W, 4-1) emerged from the bullpen to close the game out in the ninth. He struck out Daniel to begin his outing, and managed a groundout to put Great Falls down to their final out. However, the Voyagers kept the game alive after Jenkins issued two consecutive walks. After a mound visit, Jenkins had Great Falls down to their last strike before Deeb hit a grounder towards Dusty Stroup at first base. The grounder was misfielded by Stroup, a critical error that allowed Riley Jepson to score to tie the game up 5-5. 

With Jenkins ahead in the count on the next batter Runge, home plate umpire Mike Chuckerman ejected Runge for arguing balls and strikes. Tavis Brunson came in to hit for Runge, and took strike three looking to end the top of the ninth.

Facing Joshua Gainer (L, 0-1) in the ninth, Reyes drew a four pitch walk to put the go-ahead run on base. Rick Phillips took over at first to pinch run for Reyes, and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Buendia. Hueth was intentionally walked to bring Barmakian to the plate with one out.

Barmakian hit a grounder to Adam Oviedo, who retired Hueth at second but Barmakian was able to beat the throw at first to prevent the Voyagers from turning a double play. With Phillips at third after the fielder's choice, Hisky delivered the walk-off swing to win it for Idaho Falls, 6-5. 

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Idaho Falls will start RHP Ramsey Romano (3-1, 4.64 ERA) and the Voyagers starter is TBD. The game can be viewed on the Idaho Falls Chukars YouTube channel and heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone.