712.277.WINS (9467)

EXPLORERS BATS COME ALIVE IN WIN OVER CANARIES

Vermillion - The Explorers pound out 15 hits and score 11 runs in a pre-season victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries from Vermillion, SD.

The Explorers had scored only 6 runs combined in their first two exhibition games, they matched that total in the first two innings, and scored a run in the first five innings. 

Luis Durango, Nate Samson and Jay Baum all got on base and came around to score in the first to spot the Explorers a 3-0 lead. In the second three of the first four batters that came to the plate scored. Dylan Kelly lead off with a single, Luis Durango got on with a walk and Jay Austin singled to load the bases. Nate Samson and Nelson Ward each drove in a run with base hits, and Jay Baum added a sacrifice fly to give the Explorers a 6-0 lead after two innings. 

A Michael Lang double started off the third, a wild pitch moved him to third base before a Dylan Kelly ground out scored Lang for the X’s seventh run of the game. In the bottom of the third the Canaries got on the board with two runs of their own after a two out triple by Michael Hart , followed immediately by a Burt Reynolds home run off of X’s starter Luis Mateo. 

Mateo was impressive in his start for the Explorers, pitching three innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five. At one point Mateo struck out four straight Canaries and retired six in a row. Marcus Jensen and Ryan Flores came out of the bullpen and combined for 4 innings of shut out baseball.

Luis Durango lead off the fourth with a double down the third base line, and scored when Dexture McCall worked a walk with the bases loaded. 

Michael Lang lead off the fifth with a solo home run over the left field wall. Dylan Kelly followed that with a double, and came around to score on a fielders choice by Luis Durango. Dre Gleason got aboard on a fielders choice and came around to score after Jay Baum worked a bases loaded walk. 

A Michael Hart home run for the Canaries in the eighth made the score 11-3.  

Four X’s had multi hit games Durango, Kelly, Lang and Samson. And each player that came up to bat for the Explorers made it on base at least once. 

The X’s will begin their season on May 17th versus the Lincoln Saltdogs at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, NE. 

Order your tickets for the 2018 home opener (May 25^th) by stopping down to the stadium box office at Mercy Field at Lewis & Clark Park, online at www.xsbaseball.com, or by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).  Group rates available for groups of 20 or more for all (50) home games on the 2018 schedule!