Explorers Beat Wingnuts in 14

SIOUX CITY, IA- The Wichita Wingnuts lost 4-3 to the Sioux City Explorers in 14 innings at Lewis and Clark Park on Friday night.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 14th inning, Jared Keel scored the winning run from third base on a wild pitch thrown by Justin Dowdy.

Trailing 3-2, Josh Horn singled with one out in the eighth to put the tying run on base.  After several pickoff attempts on Horn, relief pitcher Michael Gardner threw wild down the right field line allowing Horn to move to third.  With two outs and Horn on third, Michael Thompson singled up the middle on an 0-2 count to tie the game at 3-3.

Wichita had an opportunity to move in front in the 13th with the bases loaded and one out, but Chad Povich, who earned the win in relief, induced a home-to-first double play ball off the bat of Chris Colton.

Brandon Mathes pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief of Gabe Medina from the eighth into the 12th to keep the game tied.  Mathes struck out six, allowed two hits, and did not allow a baserunner over his first 3.1 innings.

Mathes faced his only game in the 11th, allowing a one-out triple to Jon Owings.  Tony Mansolino's relay throw to third hit Owings in the back and appeared headed toward the Explorers' dugout, but Mathes backed up the play and prevented the winning from automatically scoring.  After an intentional walk to Kent Sakamoto, Mathes struck out Ray Serrano and later got Brett Mieras to flyout to deep center with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Michael Thompson doubled to left-center leading off the top of the second and advanced to third on a base hit through the left side by Chris Colton.  With Colton in motion, Steve Pearson pulled a groundball single through the vacated hole on the right to score Thompson and put the Wingnuts in front 1-0.  Michael Sharp with a sacrifice fly on a line drive to left that brought in Colton.

With the Wingnuts leading 2-0 in the seventh, Jared Keel hit a three-run home run off of Gabe Medina to turn the game in the X's favor.  Ray Serrano doubled to lead off the inning.  After T.J. Bohn grounded out to third, Brett Mieras blooped a single into short right-center to put runners on the corners, setting up the home run from Keel.

Medina turned in another strong effort for the Wingnuts in a no-decision, allowing three earned runs in seven innings.  Medina struck out seven, all swinging, and walked just one.  David Welch started for Sioux City and also took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on six hits.  Dustin Pease took the loss in relief.

The Wingnuts left nine runners on and dropped to 0-4 in extra innings.  Earlier in the day, the Wingnuts signed former Wichita State University outfielder Josh Workman.

The Wingnuts and Explorers continue their series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  Luke Massetti takes on right-hander Ty Marotz.  All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Wingnuts return home on Friday, June 18th for a double hearder versus Sioux City at 5:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

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