Chukars Connect for 24 Hits in 14-2 Victory over Voyagers

GREAT FALLS, MT - Looking to rebound from a 17-6 loss the night before, the Idaho Falls Chukars (7-4) did just that, winning 14-2 over the Great Falls Voyagers (6-5) on Saturday night at Centene Stadium. With the victory, the Chukars take back sole possesion of first place of the North Division.

The Chukars took the lead early in the second, on an RBI single from Brendan Hueth against Voyager starter Anthony Garcia (L, 0-1). Leading 1-0, Eric Callahan added to the early Chukar advantage on his first base hit of the series, an RBI triple down the right field line to give Idaho Falls a 2-0 lead. 

A sac fly from Dusty Stroup and an RBI single from Jose Reyes in the third but the Chukars up 4-0. Great Falls countered for their only runs against Tom Walker (W, 2-0) in the home half on a bases loaded walk and a sac fly to right field that cut the deficit, 4-2.

Idaho Falls opened the game up in the fourth, as nine batters stepped to the plate, delivering five runs for the Chukars. Steve Barmakian drove in Jose Bermudez on an RBI single to extend the lead 5-2. Calvin Estrada and Hunter Hisky loaded up the bases on back-to-back singles to bring Dusty Stroup up to bat. Stroup hit an RBI single through the left side to make it 6-2 and keep the bases loaded for Reyes. On the first pitch, Reyes belted a bases-clearing double to right center field to grow the lead, 9-2.

Walker kept the Voyagers off the board after the third, working until the sixth and limiting the Voyagers to just five hits in his second win with the Chukars. 

The bats for Idaho Falls stayed consistent, as Barmakian knocked in Callahan on a single in the fifth to make it 10-2. In the sixth, Kevin Elefante connected for a pinch hit single that scored Stroup and grew the lead further to 11-2. Another would score on an bases loaded walk drawn by Barmakian, making it 12-2.

The scoring was capped in the eighth on RBI single from Barmakian and Hisky, with the Chukars racking up 24 hits and winning 14-2.