Early Errors Cost Wingnuts

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts lost 4-1 to the Sioux City Explorers at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Friday night.

With first and third and one out in the second, Nick Singleton made an errant pickoff throw to first that allowed Kent Sakamoto to score the game's first run.

Dustin Jones led off the third with an infield single to second base and scored when Steve Pearson's throw on Darrick Hale's bunt went down the right field line in foul territory.  Hale came in on Jon Owings' RBI groundout to make it 3-0 Sioux City.

Kent Sakamoto gave the Explorers a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to the left of center field.

The Wingnuts scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh on an error by third baseman Jared Keel.  Wichita then rallied to load the bases against closer Brett Reid in the ninth, but Reid retired Josh Horn and Mario Delgado to pick up the save.

Singleton worked six innings in the loss, allowing four runs, two earned.  Singleton struck out three and walked three while allowing five hits.  Mikael Ryder pitched 7.1 for the win and allowed one unearned run on nine hits.  Dustin Pease, Matt Petty, and Cephas Howard combined for three shutout relief innings for the Wingnuts.  Wichita left 12 runners on base.

The Wingnuts continue their series with Sioux City on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  Adam Cowart goes up against right-hander Chris Jones.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

-Wingnuts-