Chukars Drop Second Straight Game to Voyagers 4-2

GREAT FALLS, MT - The Idaho Falls Chukars (5-3) bats fell silent after the fifth inning as the Great Falls Voyagers (5-3) came back to down the Chukars 4-2 on Wednesday night at Centene Stadium. The loss is the Chukars second straight to the Voyagers, which means that both teams are tied for first place in the North Division.

The Chukars opened the scoring in the second against Breeon Pooler. Dusty Stroup doubled to left field, and was brought home on an RBI groundout from Tyler Kelly that gave the Chukars a 1-0 lead. 

Joe Slocum (L, 5-4) kept Great Falls off the board in the first five innings. With his pitch to contact approach, he was able to work around baserunners and keep the Viyagers to just two base hits. Slocum was provided run support in the top of the fifth on a Stroup RBI single through the left side to extend the Chukars lead, 2-0.

Great Falls would takeover the ballgame in the home half of the sixth. Facing Slocum, Breydon Daniel hit a leadoff solo homer to left center to but the Voyagers in the run column, 2-1. An RBI triple from Riley Jepson tied it up 2-2. Jepson would score on a sac fly from Chris Monroe that gave the Voyagers a lead they wouldn't relinquish, 3-2. 

The Chukars were sat down in order by Joshua Gainer (W, 1-2) in the seventh, and Great Falls added to their lead on an RBI single to cap the scoring, 4-2.

Down to their final out, Steve Barmakian was hit by a Brad Demco pitch to bring the tying run to the plate in Calvin Estrada. Great Falls gave Demco the hook for Montan Quigley (SV, 8) who managed the final out of the ballgame on a fielder's choice 6-4 to earn a two-pitch save.

The Chukars will look to keep first place in the North Divison tomorrow against the Voyagers in game three of the six game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game can be listened to on KSPZ The Sports Zone. Both starters are TBD.