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MISSOULA- The Missoula Osprey collected 14 hits, including 10 in their final three at-bats, but their late surge could not overcome an early deficit as the Idaho Falls Chukars claimed a 12-5 win on Thursday.

The good news is that Missoula (11-7, 29-27) did not lose any ground to first-place Billings in the North Division despite the setback as the Mustangs were shut out by the Ogden Raptors, 7-0.

Danny Pulfer had three hits and Pedro Ruiz added two hits and three RBIs for the Osprey, who scored three runs in the home half of the seventh inning and added a run in the bottom of the eighth.

Breland Almadova chipped in with a pair of hits and a RBI for the Osprey. Tyler Bream also had two hits, while Ty Linton had two hits and two runs scored. Michael Perez and Adam McConnell added a base hit each for Missoula.

The Chukars (10-8, 27-29) scored the first six runs of the game in the second and third innings off of Osprey starter Ross Gerdeman (3-4). Idaho Falls would score five more in the top of the sixth and one more in the seventh to take a 12-1 edge before the Osprey could answer.

Clayton Schulz (3-6) scattered four hits and three walks in six innings of work to pick up the win on the mound for the Chukars. Andrew Stueve pitched the final three innings to earn his second save.