Voyagers come from behind to take game one versus Idaho Falls

(Great Falls, Mt.) The Great Falls Voyagers started a big six game series on Tuesday night versus the Idaho Falls Chukars. Both teams look to be fighting for the second half championship to make the playoffs and the Voyagers started off in tremendous fashion getting a come from behind win!

The game started with both starting pitchers pitching extremely well for their teams. Voyagers starter, Matt Thomas gave up only two runs in the second inning giving up just four hits before leaving in the 7th inning. Thomas didn't leave of his or Manager Tommy Thompson's doing though as the first batter lined a ball right off to Thomas, causing him to leave the game. Good news was Thomas walked off the field on his own power.

The Voyagers were only able to tap the Chukars starting pitcher for one run until the 7th and that one run came in the 4th. Riley Jepson started the inning with a double to right and scored on a single to center by Chris Monroe. With the bases loaded and two out the Voyagers were unable to push anymore runs across the plate in the 4th.

Anthony Becerra came in to pitch after Thomas was hit, and one run was scored on him on one hit. The Voyagers answered back in their half of the 7th in a big way, scoring 4 runs.

Breydon Daniel started the inning off with a single up the middle. Jake Malec hit a slow roller toward first and an attempt was made to get Daniel at second, and failed. With runners at first and second Riley Jepson hit a line drive single to right that the runners had to wait on to make sure it wasn't going to be caught, thus leading to the bases being loaded for Derek Kolbush after Collin Runge lined out to second. With one out, Kolbush stayed alive fouling off a couple of pitches and drew a walk, bringing home Daniel.

Chris Monroe came up and it looked like good things were going to happen as Monroe had 3 singles on the day, but after a strikeout, that left it up to Michael Deeb. As has often been the case in pressure situations, Deeb came through once again as he hit a hard ground ball to center scoring two runs. The scoring wasn't over though as Will Olson came up and promptly hit a single to right field scoring the fourth run in the inning for the Voyagers giving them a 5-3 lead after 7 innings.

Becerra shut down the Chukars 1,2,3 in the 8th inning and the Voyagers looked to get some insurance runs. Daniel started off the 8th with a high fly ball to left that appeared it was going to be caught at the wall. The ball hit the top of the fence and was ruled a homerun by the 3rd base umpire, giving Daniel his team leading 9th home run of the season. Jepson reached with another hit to right field for a single, and promptly stole second base. Runge drove a line drive to center that laned safely and Jepson came home and on a close play at the plate was safe!

With the two extra runs and the Voyagers up 7-3, the closer, Montana Quigley came in to shut down the Chukars. Shut them down he did as two flyouts and a strike out later the Voyagers had secured themselves the first win of this series, 7-3.

The Voyagers will look to keep the home town winning going as they will face the Chukars in game 2 Wednesday night. Gates open at 6 p.m. and first pitch at 7. See you at the Stadium!!!

Written by Ross Drishinski