712.277.WINS (9467)

BOX SCORE

Fargo, ND-The Explorers used an altered batting order to bang out 14 base hits in an 8-6 win over the RedHawks Saturday night at Newman Outdoor Field.

Following a 1 hour and 45 minute rain delay, Sioux City (6-11) jumped on Fargo-Moorhead (9-7) early. The X’s led off the top of the first with a Michael Lang single to right. Lang then stole second. Nate Samson (pictured), moved up from fifth to second in the batting order, bashed his first home run of the season for a 2-0 advantage.

After the RedHawks plated a run in the second, the Explorers tacked on three more in the third. The two-out rally began with a Nate Samson single to left. The next batter, Andres Perez, singled to left. A wild pitch moved both runners up to second and third. Tom Mendonca drew a walk to load the bases. Luke Murton then punched a single to left that scored Samson and Perez for a 4-1 lead. Another single by Rene Tosoni drove in Mendonca for the third run of the inning. Fargo-Moorhead scored twice in the bottom of the third to make it a 5-3 game.

Both teams struck for multiple runs again in the seventh inning. The Explorers leading hitter, Nate Samson, led off with a single. After a fly-out and a pitching change, Tom Mendonca walked. Another RBI base-knock by Luke Murton scored Samson. Rene Tosoni later drove in Murton for a 7-3 cushion. The RedHawks put up a three-spot in the bottom of the seventh to cut the X’s lead to 7-6. Sioux City scored an insurance run on a bases-loaded walk of Peter Barrows in the ninth to close out the night’s scoring.

On the mound, Patrick Johnson picked up his second win in as many starts for the Explorers. Johnson (2-1) pitched five-and-a-third innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and six walks. Luis Sans suffered the loss for Fargo-Moorhead. Sans (0-1) lasted just two-and-two-thirds and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Chris Bodishbaugh closed the game in the ninth for his second save.

Nate Samson led the 14-hit attack offensively for Sioux City. Samson went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Both Luke Murton and Rene Tosoni went 3-for-5. Murton had three RBIS while Tosoni drove in two. Andres Perez also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. C.J Retherford and Petey Paramore each had two hits in defeat for the RedHawks. Neither team made an error in the 3 hour and 40 minute affair.

The Explorers wrap up their four-game series with Fargo-Moorhead tomorrow afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Sioux City returns home Monday night 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.