Voyagers Win Big Over the Chukars

(Great Falls, MT)— After coming from behind in games one and two before losing game three, the Great Falls Voyagers (6-4) tried a different approach in game four. Trailing by one to the Idaho Falls Chukars (6-4) going into the bottom of the second inning, the Voyagers scored four and continued to score often, eventually winning the game 17-6. 

Starting Voyager pitcher, Tyler Naumann, pitched fantastic baseball through six innings, only allowing one earned run on five hits. The Chukars starting pitcher was chased by a hot hitting Voyager squad in the second inning. Derek Kolbush started the second inning off with a single to left, followed by a Michael Deeb single to right, and a Chris Monroe single scored Kolbush. With the bases loaded, Adam Oviedo, delivered with a single, bringing home Deeb. With two out and the bases loaded, Breydon Daniel drove home two more runs with a single to center, and the Voyagers lead after two, 4-1. 

The third inning saw more of the same from the Voyagers when Deeb started the inning off with a single to center. He was followed by Monroe hitting a single to right, with Will Olson then getting a single loading up the bases. Myles McKisic hit a single to right, scoring one run, and Breydon Daniel took advantage of the loaded bases bringing home two runs with a single to right. Jake Malec continued the single barrage, as did Riley Jepson. Kolbush added another single, after which Deeb got his second single in the inning, bringing in two. Monroe got another single in the inning, bringing in a run, as did Olson. When the dust had finally settled and the bats were no longer on fire, the Voyagers had scored 9 runs on ten hits in the third inning to take 13-2 lead. 

Idaho Falls was able to push one across in the top of the fourth but Great Falls answered right back with one of their own as Daniel started with a single and moved to third on a double by Malec. Daniel came home on a grounder by Jepson. 

The Voyagers, leading by 12 runs, decided that wasn't enough as they pushed in three more in the sixth. Daniel reached on a walk, went to second on a balk and came home on a single by Malec. Malec was then brought home on a no doubt home run over the left field wall by Jepson, his sixth homer of the year. The Voyagers lead at this point 17-2, and gave up four runs to the Chukars in the seventh inning. 

Position player, Collin Runge, came in to relieve Naumann in the seventh inning and pitched shut out ball the rest of the way, getting four strikeouts in the process. The Voyagers came away with the win, guaranteeing themselves at least a split in the series, but hope to guarantee a win in the series Saturday night. Gates open at 6 p.m. with first pitch at 7. All the excitement this weekend is happening at Centene Stadium, so come be a part of it!