Chukars Walked Off By Paddleheads in 14-13 Defeat

MISSOULA, MT - Going into the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, the Idaho Falls Chukars (18-13) were walked off on by the Missoula Paddleheads (22-9) in a 14-13 hitter's duel on Thursday night at Ogren Park. With the loss, the Chukars fall to 0-5 against Missoula on the season.

The Chukars opened the scoring in the first on an RBI groundout from Hunter Hisky that scored Sam Troyer to make it 1-0. Missoula countered in the home half with three runs against Jack Dicenso to take a 3-1 lead over the Chukars.

Missoula added to their lead in the third with another three run inning, with two singles and a sac fly to lead 6-1. 

Idaho Falls in the top of the fourth, rallied for nine runs. Calvin Estrada singled to leadoff the frame against Austin Crowson, and Dusty Stroup followed up with a two-run homer, his team leading eighth of the season to cut into the deficit, 6-3. Brady West and Rick Phillips drew walks, to put runners at first and third. With Eric Callahan at the plate, Phillips attempted to steal second, the throw from catcher Nick Cicci sailed into center field, allowing West to score and make it 6-4. Callahan later drew a walk that chased Crowson from the game for Nathan Alexander. 

On the first pitch from Alexander, Aldo Buendia laid down a bunt. Alexander rushed in to field it and slipped, allowing Buendia to reach on a bunt single and load the bases up. Brendan Hueth stepped to the plate and bounced a groundball to Alexander, who attempted to throw Phillips out slding in at home. However the throw went past Cicci, allowing both Phillips and Callahan to come home to tie the ball game 6-6. Buendia gave the Chukars their second lead, scoring on a passed ball to make it 7-6. With Hueth at third, Hisky singled him home for his 50th RBI of the season to grow the Chukars lead 8-6. In his second at-bat of the inning, Estrada belted a two-run homer to give the Chukars a four-run lead, 10-6.

Missoula responded withh a six-run frame against Dicenso and reliver Nathan Gilman that gave them their second lead, 12-10. The Chukars countered in the top of the fifth, as Hueth doubled home Callahan to make it a one-run game, 12-11. 

Facing Alex Fishberg, the Paddleheads knocked in an insurance run on a double from Keaton Greenwalt that made it 13-10. From there both bullpens kept both teams off the board going into the top of the ninth inning. 

With Jayson Newman (W, 1-0) on the mound, Stroup ledoff the inning with a double. West, now the tying-run at the plate, crushed a two-run homer in right field, which knotted the game up 13-13. Steve Barmakian  doubled to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, however Newman managed out of the inning.

Nate Jenkins (L, 3-1) took to the mound to try and send the game to the Knockout Round. However, Kamron Willman tripled to leadoff the bottom of the ninth. A hard hit grounder by Lamar Sparks, bounded off Buendia allowing Willman to score and end the game, 14-13.

The series concludes tonight with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone. Idaho Falls will start RHP Ramsey Romano (2-1, 5.04 ERA) and the Paddleheads will counter with RHP Domingo Pena (3-2, 5.92 ERA).