712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE

Fargo, ND-A four-run third inning jump-started the RedHawks as the Explorers fell 5-4 in their series opener Thursday night at Newman Outdoor Field.

Sioux City (5-10) first-year skipper Steve Montgomery managed his first game against Fargo-Moorhead after spending the last decade there as the team’s pitching coach. Fargo-Moorhead (8-6) started the night’s scoring in a big way. Brandon Newton led off the bottom of the third with a single to center. Travis Higgs was hit by a pitch. Zach Penprase then bunted the runners up to second and third. Sawyer Carroll singled to left for a 1-0 lead. Ronnie Bourquin singled to right to make it 2-0. With two outs, Nic Jackson singled to drive in Carroll. Petey Paramore made it 4-0 RedHawks as he singled to center.

The Explorers cut the lead in half in the fifth. Luke Murton started the inning with a single to left. After back-to-back strikeouts, Todd Jennings singled on the infield. Rene Tosoni then smacked a triple to left to score both base runners. It was still 4-2 through seven. Each team scored a run in the eighth before Mark Sobolewski blasted his first home run of the season in the ninth for the game’s final margin.

Fargo-Moorhead starter Danny Gutierrez notched the win. Gutierrez (2-0) completed seven innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked just one. Ryan Mitchell took the loss for Sioux City. Mitchell (0-3) gave up four earned runs on seven hits in six-and-two-thirds. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. Nate Garcia pitched the ninth and posted his fifth save of the season despite allowing a home run.

At the plate, Rene Tosoni bagged two hits and two RBIs for Sioux City. Former Fargo-Moorhead catcher Todd Jennings had a 2-for-4 night with a run scored against his old team. For the RedHawks, Petey Paramore went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Explorers play game two of the four-game series with Fargo-Moorhead tomorrow night at Newman Outdoor Field. First pitch is set for 7:02 p.m. Sioux City returns home June 2^nd against Gary SouthShore. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.