Chukars Split Doubleheader with Ogden

By Noah Moore

IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Falls Chukars (20-14) split a doubleheader with the Ogden Raptors (19-16), taking game one 4-2, and falling in game two 3-2. With the doubleheader split and a loss by the Great Falls Voyagers, the Chukars are just a half game back of second place in the North Division.

GAME ONE

Ogden opened up the scoring in the first on a Reese Alexiades RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead. The Chukars countered in the home half with a single from Calvin Estrada against Ronny Orta (L, 4-2) that scored Hunter Hisky to tie it up, 1-1.

The Chukars took the lead in the third. Aldo Buendia led off the frame, stole second and came around to score on an RBI groundout from Hisky to make it 2-1. Brady West scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, Eric Callahan coming across to score on a sac fly to make it 4-1.

Sam Kornstad (W, 3-2) kept Ogden at bay, tossing five innings, allowing one earned run, striking out three and walking two. 

Ogden capped the scoring on an RBI double in the sixth on an RBI double from Alexiades that made it 4-2. 

Nate Jenkins (SV, 2) tossed a scoreless seventh, managing three groundouts to secure the win and his second save.

GAME TWO

Buendia singled in the second to give the Chukars a 1-0 lead in game two. Victor Rodriguez kept it scoreless in four innings of a spot start, with two punchouts.

Logan Bender took to the mound in the fifth, making his home debut in Idaho Falls. However, an error by first baseman Dusty Stroup and a Josh Brougton single put two runners on with nobody out. Jose Reyes made a spectacular play in shallow center field, racing out to get a soft fly ball from Dakota Conners for the first out and getting it back in time to allow no one to advance. Alexiades then stepped to the plate and hit a grounder to Eric Callahan, who made the throw home over to Hisky to protect the lead. After hitting Bryan Danserau with a pitch, Bender escaped the inning with a strikeout of Jesus Valdez to keep it a 1-0 game. 

Ogden, however, took the lead in the sixth on an RBI double from Sonny Ulliana and a single from Dustyn Macaluso to make it 2-1. The Chukars countered in the home half against Haden Erbe (W, 1-0) on a pinch hit double from Steve Barmakian that tied it up at 2. 

The Raptors then took the lead in the top of the seventh against Jon Nunnally Jr (L, 1-2) on a Valdez sac fly that capped the scoring, 3-2. Jackson Lancaster (SV, 1) worked around a one out walk issued to Brendan Hueth to secure the Ogden victory, 

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The game can be viewed on the Idaho Falls Chukars YouTube channel, and heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone.  Idaho Falls will start RHP Nicholas Trabacchi  (1-0, 9.00 ERA) and the Raptors starter is TBD.