Four-Run Seventh Lifts Chukars to 7-3 Victory Over Billings

IDAHO FALLS, ID - Utilizing a four-spot in thhe seventh, the Idaho Falls Chukars (12-8) defeated the Billings Mustangs (8-11) by a 7-3 score on Wednesday night at Melaleuca Field. Up 3-2. the bats heated up at the right time to power the Chukars to their 12th win of the second half.

The game was scoreless through the first two innings of play as Chukar starter Jack Dicenso (W, 5-4) and Mustang starter Patrick Maybach (L, 1-3) dueled on the mound. Both pitchers stranded runners on in the second to keep runs off the board.

Billings opened the scoring against Dicenso in the third on a sac line to left field from Andrew Fernandez to lead 1-0. The Chukars countered in the home half against Maybach to score two runs.

Eric Callahan led off the inning on a double off the right field wall, gifted to Callahan as the right fielder Burle Dixon lost the fly ball out in the sun. Brandon Bohning advanced Callahan to third on a base hit deflected off the third baseman Jackson Raper to put runners on the corners for Steve Barmakian. On the first pitch, Barmakian tied the ball game on a single through the right side to tie the game 1-1. Jose Reyes gave the Chukars the lead on a base hit right to the pitcher that allowed Bohning to score and make it 2-1.

Billings repsonded with an RBI single from Crews Taylor in the fourth to knot it up 2-2. Just like in the third, Idaho Falls took their second lead of the night on an RBI single up the middle from Callahan that scored Brendan Hueth, 3-2.

Luke Laurita, the seventh overall pick in the PBL Mid-Season Draft made his home debut in the sixth, and tossed a 1-2-3 frame while recording two strikeouts. The southpaw however, ran into trouble in the seventh as the Mustangs loaded up the bases on three straight singles with no outs.

Laurita was pulled from the game for Keagan McGinnis, who stranded the bases loaded and struck out the Mustangs side in order to preserve the Chukars lead.

In the seventh, the Chukars plated four-runs to extend their lead. Singles from Brady West and Bohning put two runners on for Barmakian. Facing Darrien Ragins, Barmakian lifted a single off the second baseman Jordan Hovey that sent pinch runner Damani Thoms home. The throw beat Thomas sliding in home, so the score remained 3-2. Reyes would draw a walk to load the bases up for Dusty Stroup. A wild pitch from Ragins allowed Bohning to score and pad the Chukar lead, 4-2. On the 1-2 pitch, Stroup lifted a two-run double to left center field to make it 6-2 and extend his hitting streak to 16 games. Stroup would be driven home on the next pitch on an RBI single from Hunter Hisky, capping the inning with a 7-2 lead.

The Mustangs led off the ninthh against Nate Jenkins on a solo home run from Taylor, making it 7-3. Jenkins would retire the next three batters to secure the Chukar win. 

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Idaho Falls will roll out RHP Tom Walker and Billings will look to counter with RHP Elijah Gill. The game can be heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone and viewed on the Idaho Falls Chukars YouTube Channel.