Wingnuts Swept in Double Header by Saints

ST. PAUL, MN- The St. Paul Saints swept a double header from the Wichita Wingnuts on Sunday afternoon at Midway Stadium, winning 5-4 and 6-0.

Four Saints pitchers combined for a seven-hit shutout in the nightcap.  The Wingnuts had the leadoff man on in their final six innings and twice had the bases loaded with no outs, but could not score.  The Wingnuts left 10 runners on base in the seven-inning contest.

The Saints scored three times in the bottom of the second and never looked back.  Jason Cooper and Brent Krause opened the bottom of the second with singles.  After a sacrifice bunt by Flint Wipke, Andrew Schmiesing hit a groundball to second that scored Cooper from third to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.  Steve Mays singled home Krause with the second run of the inning.  Mays eventually scored on an RBI single to right field by Brandon Carter.

St. Paul added a run in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Josh Petersen and plated two more in the bottom of the sixth on RBIs from Schmiesing and Carter.

Adam Cowart pitched a complete game in the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits in six innings of work.  Cowart walked one and struck out five.  Zach Peterson earned the win for the Saints throwing five-plus shutout innings.

The Saints took the opener of the double header 5-4 in a back-and-forth contest.

Tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth, Ole Sheldon drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left field.  Josh Petersen scored the run after doubling to right-center with two outs and no one on base.

The Wingnuts rallied from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning.  With first and second and one out, Michael Thompson hit a bloop single to left that scored Jeff Christy from second base.  Michael Sharp followed and hit a groundball to shortstop that was misplayed by Steve Butler and led to the tying run coming across home plate.

The Saints scored three times in the bottom of the second to erase a 2-1 Wingnuts lead.  All three runs scored after there were two outs and no one on base.  Brandon Carter and Josh Alley each hit singles and were driven in on a two-run double down the right field line by Josh Petersen.  Ole Sheldon hit an RBI single through the right side to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Wingnuts had overcome an early 1-0 Saints advantage with two runs in the top of the second.  Chad Rothford hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game and went ahead on an RBI groundout by Michael Sharp.

Nick Singleton took the loss, throwing a complete game.  Singleton allowed five runs in six innings while striking out four.  Jason Godin earned the win for the Saints while Kyle Foster worked a five-out save.  Seven of the Saints' 11 runs in the double header were scored with two outs.

The Wingnuts return home Monday to host the Sioux City Explorers at 7:05 p.m.  Gabe Medina is expected to take the mound for Wichita against left-hander Jayson Miller.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

-Wingnuts-