Clarkson’s slam helps Range Riders over Chukars

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — TJ Clarkson hit a second inning grand slam while Jack Lynch and Jake Millan drove in a pair of runs each and the Glacier Range Riders defeated the Idaho Falls Chukars 11-8 Wednesday at Melaleuca Field.

After the Chukars (34-27 overall, 7-7 in the second half) scored a pair of runs in the first, Millan and Lynch singled while Gabe Howell reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for Clarkson’s slam. It was his ninth homer of the season, tying him with Kingston Liniak for the team lead. 

Lynch singled in the sixth and a Logan Beard sacrifice fly in the seventh put Glacier (23-39, 6-8) ahead 6-4. 

Thomas McCaffrey’s RBI double cut the lead down to 6-5 before the Range Riders scored the next five to pull away. 

Casserilla and Millan hit RBI doubles during a four-run ninth inning that saw Glacier take an 11-5 lead. 

Idaho Falls’ comeback bid fell short as Simon Baumgardt drove in a pair on a single and a bases-loaded hit batsman brought in another run before Nick Zegna struck out Grady Morgan to end the game. Baumgardt finished the day 4-for-5 from the plate with two RBIs. 

Luke Schafer started for Glacier and went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He fanned a pair. 

Gary Grosjean started for Idaho Falls, scattering nine hits and allowing six runs (two earned). He fanned four. 

The teams wrapped up their three-game series Thursday, the game was not finished by press time. 

Glacier    040    001    114    -    11    14    1 

Idaho Falls    210    100    103    -    8    12    3

Luke Schafer, Davis Pratt (6), Jason Franks (7), Jacob Hasty (8), Rayne Supple (9), Nick Zegna (9) and Angel Mendoza. Gary Grosjean, Steven Ordorica (8), Nicolo Pinazzi (8), Jake Dixon (9) and Thomas McCaffrey. 

GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — TJ Clarkson 3-4, Logan Beard 2-4, Eli Patton 0-4, Xavier Casserilla 1-5, Kingston Liniak 1-5, Jake Millan 3-5, Jack Lynch 3-5, Gabe Howell 1-5, Angel Mendoza 0-2, Kyle Ashworth 0-1. 

IDAHO FALLS CHUKARS — Tyler Wyatt 1-2, Grady Morgan 2-6, Garret Ostrander 1-2, Benjamin Rosengard 1-4, Trevor Rogers 1-5, Thomas McCaffrey 2-5, Jacob Jablonski 0-4, Simon Baumgardt 4-5, Eddie Pelc 0-3, Gabriel Vasquez 0-0. 

2B — Clarkson, Beard, Casserilla, Millan, Howell. McCaffrey, Baumgardt. HR — Clarkson (9). RBIs — Clarkson 4, Lynch 2, Millan 2, Beard, Casserilla. Wyatt 2, Baumgardt 2, McCaffrey, Rosengard, Morgan.