Massetti, Patterson Help Wingnuts Take Opener

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux Falls Pheasants 11-3 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Monday night.

Luke Massetti pitched into the ninth inning to earn his second win of the season while Ryan Patterson collected four hits and five RBIs in the win.

The Wingnuts opened a 3-0 lead in the third.  Tony Mansolino and Eric Williams hit back-to-back one-out singles.  Ryan Patterson drove in the first run with an RBI single down the left field line.  Mario Delgado and Michael Thompson added RBIs in the inning.

Reggie Abercrombie was hit by a pitch leading off the fourth.  Abercrombie stole second and third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly in foul ground to right field.  Sioux Falls cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth on a two-out, RBI single from Gus Milner.

Patterson led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the left field wall, his first home run of the season.  Josh Horn walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a long single down the right field line from Mario Delgado.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Patterson cleared the bases with a double down the left field line that one-hopped the fence.  Josh Horn followed with an RBI single to center that scored Patterson and gave the Wingnuts a 9-2 lead.

Jeff Christy launched a two-run home run with two outs in the seventh to make it 11-2.  It was Christy's first home run since 2006.

Massetti pitched 8.1, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while throwing 111 pitches.  Massetti struck out four and walked none.  Kyle Frets, signed earlier in the day, recorded the final two outs.

The Wingnuts and Pheasants play game two of their series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.  Ben Graham goes up against left-hander Ryan Rodriguez.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

-Wingnuts-