SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts lost 7-5 to the Sioux Falls Canaries on Thursday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.
Wichita set a new club record with four home runs, but a grand slam by Cory Harris in the bottom of the seventh polished off a five-run Canaries rally.
For the second straight night, Steve Pearson homered to right-center field. After a one-out single by Greg Porter in the top of the second, Pearson left the yard hitting a high fly ball that cleared the back fence and gave Wichita an early 2-0 lead.
Sioux Falls rallied against Adam Cowart in the bottom of the inning. The Canaries loaded the bases with one out and scratched out runs on an RBI groundout by Ryan Grant and a two-out infield single by Joe Anthonsen.
Michael Thompson crushed a home run to leadoff the top of the fifth putting the Wingnuts back in front at 3-2. Adam Cowart walked Canaries' leadoff man Joe Anthonsen to open the bottom of the fifth, but promptly picked him off first base. Cowart then retired the next two hitters to preserve the 3-2 advantage.
The Wingnuts extended their lead in the very next frame. This time Joe Muich, who was behind 0-2, ripped a fly ball over the left field wall to make it 4-2. On the next pitch, Greg porter hit a line drive over the wall in right for his fourth home run of the season and his third in the series against the Canaries.
Adam Cowart retired the side in order in the sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Three straight singles loaded the bases with one out against Cowart who was relieved by Tyler Rhoden. Tim Hutting drew a walk from Rhoden to force home a run and cut the lead to 5-3. Cory Harris followed with a grand slam home run that just cleared the fence in right-center field to put the Canaries in front at 7-5.
Cowart took a no-decision, allowing five runs on seven hits in 6.1 IP. Cowart did not allow a base hit from the third through the sixth innings. The game marked the first time that the Wingnuts lost when leading after five innings. Wichita had previously been 13-0 in that situation.
The Wingnuts return home on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the St. Paul Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with the Wingnuts sending Will Savage to the mound against Saints' right-hander Mitch Wylie. It's QuikTrip Buy-In Night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium as well as the first birthday celebration for Wingnuts' mascot Spinner. The Wingnuts will also sign autographs following the game, courtesy of The Wolf and BOB FM. For tickets, call the Wingnuts office at (316) 264-4625.
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