SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-6 at Sioux Falls Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Wingnuts jumped out to an 8-0 lead after four and a half innings and held on after the Canaries rallied for three runs in both the fifth and sixth.
After a bases loaded walk to Greg Porter in the third gave Wichita a 1-0 lead, Dustan Mohr slugged a bases clearing double off of starter Pat Mahomes to right-center to make it 4-0.
Patrick Brooks hit a two-out, RBI double to left field in the top of the fourth against Mahomes that scored Brenan Herrera to increase the lead to 5-0.
Wichita extended its lead further in the fifth thanks to two home runs. Kelly Hunt led off the inning with his league leading 21st of the year. With six games remaining in the regular season, Hunt is now just one shy of the American Association's single-season record of 22. After Steve Pearson singled, Michael Thompson drilled a home run over the left field fence to make it 8-0.
The Canaries rallied for three runs in the fifth on a two-run double from Cody Haerther and an RBI single from Trevor Lawhorn. Sioux Falls scored three more times in the sixth to cut the lead to 8-6, but Joe D'Alessandro struck out Lawhorn looking to end the inning and strand the tying runs on base.
Greg Porter grounded an RBI single to right in the top of the eighth to close out the scoring at 9-6.
Adam Cowart earned the win, improving to 7-5, and allowing six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 IP. Doug Hurn worked a scoreless eighth before Justin Dowdy notched his 16th save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Wingnuts won two of three from the Canaries over the weekend, marking the first time in two seasons that the Wingnuts had won a series at Sioux Falls Stadium. The Wingnuts finish their 2009 road schedule 24-24.
The Wingnuts return home on Monday, August 24th when they host the Lincoln Saltdogs. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
