Wichita, KS- Kelly Hunt homered twice and drove in five runs as the Wingnuts outlasted the the Sioux Falls Canaries 10-9 on Sunday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.
The Canaries erupted for six runs and seven hits off starter Gabe Medina before Wichita even came to the plate. Patrick Reilly and Joe Anthonsen each knocked in two runs. The Wingnuts got two back in the bottom of the inning and then added five more in the second. The big blow came from Hunt, who hit a three-run home run, one pitch after Reilly booted a potential inning-ending grounder.
Sioux Falls went back ahead with two runs in the third on a two-run single by Beau Torbert, before Wichita tied things at 9-9 on a solo home run to straight-away center in the fourth by Dustan Mohr. After Sioux Falls reclaimed the lead in the sixth, Wichita went ahead to stay on Hunt's second home run of the game - a two-run shot. In the eighth, Wingnuts relievers Richard Salazar and Justin Young got in - and out of a jam without a blemish. After loading the bases with no outs, Salazar started a 1-2-3 double play before Young came in to get Torbert to line out to third to end the inning.
The Wingnuts picked up a hit in every inning, while five relievers combined to allow just one run in five innings. Doug Hurn earned the win, while Joe D'Allesandro pitched a scoreless ninth to record his fifth save of the season.
The Wingnuts will host the Pensacola Pelicans on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Adam Cowart will take the mound for Wichita. For tickets call the Wingnuts office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
