News

Matt Schuld was locked in for 7 2/3 innings of two-run domination over the Kansas City T-Bones, as the ‘Hawks’ line-up produces six runs as a cushion on Wednesday night at Newman Outdoor Field in front of 3,248 fans.

Brandon Tripp took care of the very first run of the ballgame, putting RedHawks up 1-0 over the Kansas City T-Bones. Travis Higgs led off the bottom of the second inning with a 10-pitch walk, and was sent home from first on Tripp’s double.

The ‘Hawks threatened with two more base runners in the bottom of the very next inning, when Nic Jackson drew a lead-off walk, and Ronnie Bourquin crushed a double just over first baseman’s head. However, neither Higgs nor Tripp were able to collect any RBIs, as they both struck out swinging.

On the other side, Matt Schuld was perfect on the mound for the RedHawks until the top of the fourth. He retired first 10 straight hitters, until giving up a walk to Danny Richar to lose the perfect game. With two outs, his no-hitter went out of the window with Ray Sadler’s line drive for a single to the center field.

With two runners on once again, the Fargo-Moorhead’s line-up threatened Casey Barnes, however, with runners on first and second after giving up two base hit, he was able to get a 5-3 putout to end the frame.

Finally, more runs for the home team came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Due up were Tripp, Michael Thompson, and Anthony Kaskadden. They would’ve all reach safely, getting a single to center, double to left, and an RBI single to left, respectively. At that point, the RedHawks were doubling up the T-Bones 2-0. With one man out, two RBIs were waiting for Frank Salerno, as he stepped into the box, saw two pitches, and on the third one sent a base hit barely clearing pitcher’s and second baseman’s glove, sending Thompson and Kaskadden home. With two outs, C.J. Retherford trotted out an infield base hit, allowing Salerno to score the fifth run for the RedHawks.

Cherry on top of the Cake to back up Schuld’s great performance was Travis Higgs’ solo home run to left field. The first pitch he saw in the bottom of the seventh quickly disappeared over the left field wall for his sixth long ball of the 2014 season. With the Kansas City T-Bones unable to get anything serious going, the ‘Hawks got on top 6-0.

Matt Schuld kept his pitching ways into the eighth inning, giving up his first run after letting Vladimir Frias get a double, and T.J. Mittelstaedt collected the first RBI for the T-Bones to make it 6-1. That wrapped up Schuld’s night with 7 2/3 innings of one run ballgame, as he earns the win on the evening and moves to 1-0. Relieving Joe Harris gave up two back-to-back singles, allowing the T-Bones to bring in another run. Ray Sadler’s groundball to shortstop Kaskadden could’ve been a third out of that frame, however, he could not get a grip on the ball, which let Richar score Kansas City’s third run, cutting the Fargo-Moorhead’s lead to 6-3.

Casey Barnes moved to 3-6 with tonight’s loss. Due to the three runs score by the visitor in the top of the eight, Nate Garcia entered the game in a save situation and seized the opportunity for his 18^th save for the year.