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BOX SCORE

Sioux City, IA-The Explorers matched a season-high five errors and had their two-game win streak snapped in a 5-3 loss to Wichita Thursday night at Lewis & Clark Park.

With the loss, Sioux City (20-28) is now 3-5 in two-run games this season. The Wingnuts started the scoring with a single tally in the first. Ryan Khoury led off the inning with a single to left and moved to second on a throwing error by the pitcher attempting a pick-off. Khoury proceeded to steal third and then scored as the throw went up the left-field line.

Wichita (31-17) added to its lead to start the fourth. Leading off, Brent Clevlen doubled to left on a hard line drive. The next batter, J.T. Wise, drove in Clevlen with a double up the left-field line. Wise tagged and advanced to third on a fly-out. Taylor Oldham followed with a ground ball to short that resulted in a throwing error to first. Wise came home on the error and it was 3-0 Wingnuts.

The Explorers plated their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth. Peter Barrows led off the inning with a sharply hit double into the left field corner. With two outs, Todd Jennings delivered an RBI single to left-center that drove in Barrows.

In the fifth, Sioux City scored twice to even the affair. Oscar Mesa (pictured) reached with a double up the left-field line to start the inning. Tim Colwell followed with a bunt single. Rene Tosoni walked to load the bases. After Andres Perez lined out, Peter Barrows laced a two-run scoring single to left that tied it 3-3. A strikeout and a fly-out in foul ground ended the rest of the X’s threat.

Wichita quickly reclaimed the lead in the sixth. Brent Clevlen began with a line-drive single to left. He moved to third on a single to right off the bat of J.T. Wise. Chris McClendon drove in Clevlen with a single to center and it was 4-3. The Wingnuts added one in the seventh for the final margin.

On the mound, Justin Klipp posted the win for Wichita. Klipp (5-2) worked six innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks. John Straka suffered the loss for Sioux City. Straka (4-4) lasted six-and-a-third and gave up five runs (three earned) on twelve hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Matt Nevarez came on in the ninth and gave up a base hit but struck out two for his 13^th save of the season.

The Explorers were outhit by the Wingnuts 13-7. Oscar Mesa, Tim Colwell, and Peter Barrows all had two-hit nights for Sioux City. Barrows drove in two and scored a run, while Colwell extended his hitting streak to eight games. For Wichita, J.T. Wise went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Ryan Khoury and Brent Clevlen each had two hits and two runs. Carlo Testa collected a couple of hits.               

Sioux City squares off with Wichita in game two Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05, and fireworks will once again follow the game. For ticket information and promotion specials at Lewis & Clark Park, call 712-277-WINS or visit the Explorers website at www.xsbaseball.com.