Ballers Stay Alive with 8-3 Win Over Chukars, Force Game Five

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland Ballers turned timely hitting and a late surge into an 8-3 victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars on Saturday night at Raimondi Park, evening the RedPocket Pioneer League Championship Series at two games apiece and setting up a decisive Game Five.

Idaho Falls struck first in the second inning when Eddie Pelc lined a two-run single to center, giving the Chukars an early 2-0 advantage. Oakland responded in the fifth, as Michael O'Hara reached base ahead of Tremayne Cobb Jr., who launched a two-run homer to left to tie the game. Later in the inning, Cam Bufford singled in Esai Santos to push the Ballers ahead, 3-2.

The Ballers extended their lead in the seventh, with Jake Allgeyer doubling home Christian Almanza to make it 4-2.

Idaho Falls clawed back in the eighth on a solo homer by Jacob Jablonski, but Oakland answered immediately. Santos delivered an RBI single to score T.J. McKenzie, and Bufford followed with the dagger — a three-run blast to right that put the game out of reach.

Bufford finished the night 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Cobb Jr. added two hits and two RBI at the top of the lineup. Almanza reached base three times and scored twice, and Santos collected two hits, an RBI, and a run scored.

On the mound, Gabe Tanner gave Oakland 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on 10 hits before the bullpen took over. Conner Richardson struck out four across 1.2 innings of relief, and Connor Sullivan closed it out with a scoreless ninth for his third save of the postseason.

For Idaho Falls, Thomas McCaffrey and Jablonski each had three-hit nights, and Pelc drove in two, but the Chukars left nine runners on base. Starter Nathan Hemmerling allowed three runs over four innings and took the loss.

With the win, Oakland forces a winner-take-all Game Five on Sunday at Raimondi Park. Fans can catch the action on 860 AM The Answer and FloBaseball.tv at 6:35 p.m. PDT.