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The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks put up a valiant rally in the ninth inning, but fell 7-4 to the Wichita Wingnuts on Sunday night at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo.

Both of the teams got a few base runners in the first inning, but it wasn’t until the top of the second frame when the first run of the ballgame crossed home plate. The Wichita Wingnuts opened with a single by Brent Clevlen, followed by a fielder’s choice for Carlo Testa. Clevlen would come around to score the first run on David Amberson’s single into the left field.

Another run for the Wingnuts came in the third from the lead-off hitter Ryan Khoury, who reach on a base on balls. After stealing second and getting to third on a fielder’s choice, Khoury came home safely on Shawn O’Neill’s wild pitch, putting Wichita up 2-0.

Erik Castro was responsible for Fargo-Moorhead’s first run, as his RBI double sent home Nic Jackson, who previously singled to right field.

In the top of the fourth inning Wichita found an answer to that RedHawks’ run. One more run for the visitors was courtesy of Brent Dean, when he lifted O’Neill’s 3-1 pitch for a solo shot, giving the Wingnuts a 3-1 lead in the game.  In the top of the fifth the 3,294 fans in attendance saw a similar scenario unravel. After Petey Paramore dropped a pop-up in foul territory, Clevlen punished him by sending the ball over the left field wall for a solo home run.

Wichita continued their small steps towards runs, adding another run in the top of the sixth and two in seventh. In the sixth frame, Jake Luce scored (after previously hitting a single with one out) on Jake Kahaulelio’s sacrifice fly to right field. At that point, the scoreboard read 5-1 for Wichita. The seventh inning brought two runs. Clevlen singled to center field. With one out, Chris McCledon roped a double down the right-field line and Brent Dean, with a single to right, plated Clevlen. Luce, with a base hit of his own, brought in McCledon.

Once again, the ‘Hawks’ bats remained fairly silent up until the ninth inning. Travis Higgs opened up the rally with a single to right field, and would later come score after bases were loaded and Castro got a base on balls. When pinch hitter Anthony Kaskadden trotted out an infield single, the score moved to 7-3. Sawyer Carroll kept things alive with his single, scoring C.J. Retherford for a 7-4 ballgame, however Alex Hinshaw entered the game for the Wingnuts to collect the save of the night and preserved the 7-4 victory. That was his second save of the year.

Rookie Shawn O’Neill suffered the loss and slips to 0-1 after his professional debut, while Justin Klipp picks up the win, moving to 7-3.

The second game of the four-game series is scheduled for Monday at 7:02 p.m. Call (701) 235-6161 or log on to www.fmredhawks.com to purchase your tickets.