News

FARGO, N.D. – Taylor Stanton pitched eight-plus shutout innings and Ron Bourquin hit a two-run home run to help lead the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks past the St. Paul Saints, 2-0, Wednesday at Newman Outdoor Field.

Hits were hard to come by in Wednesday’s game as Taylor Stanton and Saints’ Anthony Claggett held the opposing lineups in check in a pitchers’ duel.

Stanton (7-3) gave up only one hit to St. Paul in his first four innings. Stanton scattered six hits total in eight-plus innings and struck out eight batters, while walking none.

The Saints’ two best scoring chances came in the fifth and ninth innings. St. Paul was able to get its first runner to second of the game in the fifth on two straight one-out singles. Fargo-Moorhead’s C.J. Retherford helped end the threat by catching a Dan Kraczowski line-drive, then completed a double play by flipping the ball to second to catch the runner off second for the third out.

St. Paul’s Joey Becker picked up his second hit of the game in the ninth on a leadoff double that forced the RedHawks to go to the bullpen. Joe Harris came in for an out and forced a groundout that advanced Becker to third. With one out, Nate Kilcrease entered the game and struck out Ole Sheldon, then forced Donald Blunt into a flyout to seal the victory and help him earn his first save of the season.

Anthony Claggett (7-4) gave up two earned runs on eight hits, three walks and had four strikeouts in the loss for the Saints (37-38). Claggett allowed only five hits after a two-out two-run home run by Ronnie Bourquin in the third that made it the eventual 2-0 score.

The RedHawks (48-28) were led at the plate by Buddy Sosnoskie who went 3-for-3. C.J. Retherford hit 2-for-4 with a double and extended a 15-game hitting streak. Bourquin provided the lone runs of the game on the homer in the third.

Fargo-Moorhead tied a season-high with its fifth straight victory on Wednesday. The RedHawks and Saints conclude their three-game series at 7:02 p.m. Thursday at Newman Outdoor Field. Tickets are available at fmredhawks.com or by calling (701) 235-6161.