The Helena Brewers suffered a tough loss Thursday night at the hands of the Idaho Falls Chukars. Despite leading after seven complete innings, the Brewers fell 4-3 thanks to a 2-RBI triple by Idaho Falls first baseman Jason Morales in the eighth inning.

The Brewers weren't helped by the fact that they left the bases loaded three times.

Helena had at least a share of the lead for almost the entire game. Josh Prince singled in the fifth inning and stole his league-leading 21st base before scoring on a Chris Ellington single. Scott Krieger later scored to double the Helena lead.

The Chukars answered in the bottom of the fifth when Deivy Batista drove home Marvin Cooper. The Helena bats were still alive, however, as the Brewers chalked another score in the top of the sixth when Chad Stang hit an RBI triple. He was later thrown out at home trying to tag up on Prince's flyout to foul territory.

Idaho Falls scored again in the sixth to cut the Helena lead to one, then struck in the bottom of the eighth. Allen Caldwell singled off Eric Arnett to lead off the inning. After a Hilton Richardson base hit, Jason Morales tripled to left, driving home two runs. Arnett got the next two players out, but the damage had been done.

Arnett was handed his first loss of the season. The Brewers' top draft pick of 2009 saw his ERA rise to 8.31. Idaho Falls pitcher Nick Wooley got the win, his first of the year.

The loss drops the Brewers back to an even 11-11 while Idaho Falls moved to 13-7. Helena is in third place in the Pioneer League North, two games behind the Missoula Osprey.

The Brewers play the Chukars again tonight in Idaho Falls, starting at 7:15.