Pheasants Mount Big Comeback on Wingnuts

SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts lost 9-8 to the Sioux Falls Pheasants at Sioux Falls Stadium on Saturday night.

The Wingnuts held a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, but a series of four errors led to a four-run inning that put Sioux Falls back in the game and allowed them to come back.

Tied at 8-8 in the bottom of the eighth, Will Richards drew a lead off walk against Cephas Howard.  Richards advanced to second on a sacrifice from Joe Anthonsen and went to third on a wild pitch.  With the infield in, Tim Hutting lined a single to left-center field to give the Pheasants their first lead of the night at 9-8.

Sioux Falls trailed 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh.  Brandon Mathes, who relieved starter Sean Teague in the sixth, allowed an infield single to Beau Torbert with one out.  Brandon Sing was next and hit a two-run home run over to left field, his second of the game, to tie things at 8-8.

The Pheasants began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth.  Trailing 7-0, Sing led off with a solo shot against Teague to left field on a high flyball.  Trevor Lawhorn reached on an error charged to Josh Horn.  After Kevin Carby lined out to shortstop, Gus Milner hit into a fielder's choice that left him on first with two outs.  Eddy Rodriguez hit a slow groundball up the third base line that Michael Bell snared on a nice backhand play.  Bell was charged with an error when his throw to first pulled Steve Pearson away from the bag.

With runners on first and second, Anthonsen pulled a single through the right side that scored Milner and chased Rodriguez to third base.  Anthonsen took second on a throwing error to the plate by right fielder Jorge Cortes.  Tim Hutting hit a sharp groundball to first that glanced off the body of Pearson.  Pearson recovered, but his throw to first with Teague covering went into foul ground and allowed Rodriguez and Anthonsen to score, cutting the Wingnuts' lead to 7-4.

Wichita jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the fourth.  Horn and Cortes opened the inning with singles to right field.  A wild pitch by Sioux Falls' starter Ryan Shaver put runners on second and third for Mario Delgado who hit into an RBI fielder's choice at first.  Michael Bell hit a bloop single to right that scored Cortes to make it 2-0.

With Delgado on second and Bell on first, Ryan Patterson hit a groundball to the right side that Anthonsen flipped to Hutting for a force at second.  Hutting dropped the ball and was charged with an error that loaded the bases.  After Shaver struck out Jackson Melian, Michael Sharp singled to center to increase the lead to 3-0.  Steve Pearson drove in Bell from third with an RBI groundout to first.

Ryan Patterson cracked a two-out, three run home run in the top of the fifth to make it 7-0 Wichita before the Pheasants' rally in the bottom of the inning.

New second baseman Joseph Spiers hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 8-4, but Sioux Falls scored twice in the bottom half on a solo home run from Torbert and an RBI single from Milner.

Teague took a no-decision, allowing six runs, three earned, in 5.1 IP.  Shaver allowed eight runs, seven earned in six innings, also in a no-decision.  Brandon Rapoza earned the win with a scoreless top of the eighth.  Aaron Cotter picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.  Jorge Cortes extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Wingnuts and Pheasants continue their series on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.  Nick Singleton takes on right-hander Travis Kane.  All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Wingnuts return home on Friday, July 23rd when they host the St. Paul Saints.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

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