712.277.WINS (9467)

Kingsey, IA - The X's got the win in Kingsley, IA Saturday Night 6-5 over Lincoln. The Sioux City Explorers and Lincoln Saltdogs were heralded by good pitching, with neither team scoring a run until the bottom of the fourth inning where the X’s took fire.

Second baseman Ryan Court had a one out single to start the bats in the fourth, he was soon followed by five singles (2-RBIs), a stolen base, and a passed ball, which accumulated to four runs in the inning. 

The Saltdogs answered in the 5th, with four runs of their own to tie the contest on two hits, one error and four base-on-balls. Lincoln’s third baseman Eddie Young had a two run single that inning. The other two runs scored were off of walks. 

The bullpen for each team settled down after the bumpy innings in the fourth and fifth and held each team scoreless for the next two innings. In the eighth inning, Explorers right handed hitter Ryan Court hit an opposite field solo shot to left to put Sioux City on top 5-4. 

Explorer’s relief pitcher Billy Bullock pitched a scoreless ninth inning which would have ended the game in a normal contest, but since this was an exhibition outing, the Saltdogs and Explorers were set to play 10 innings. 

Sioux City scored one run in the ninth to extend their lead 6-4, Lincoln in return scored one of their own in the tenth but it wasn’t enough to apprehend the Explorers. Final score in ten innings being 6-5 Explorers. 

Starting pitching was stellar for the X’s with former first round draft pick Jeff Marquez on the mound. The right-hander pitched four scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out five. Eric Wordekemper, Jimmer Kennedy and Billy Bullock also pitched for the X’s that game in relief. 

The Sioux City Explorer’s will face the Sioux Falls Canaries on May 21st at Lewis and Clark Park to start the regular season, 7:05 first pitch. For 2015 ticket information at Lewis and Clark Park, call (712) 277-WINS or visit the X’s website at www.xsbaseball.com