News

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks opened up the final series of the year with a 10-6 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries, as the offense came alive again to produce 15 hits on a fireworks and Fan Appreciation Night on Friday night in Fargo, ND.

The Sioux Falls Canaries jumped all over Taylor Stanton in the first inning. Steve Tinoco led the ballgame off with a single to the shortstop, and Brandon Jones would follow up with a hard-hit single up the middle. That brought up A.J. Kirby-Jones, who lifted a ball over the center field wall, to give the visitor an early 3-0 lead.

Answering those runs were Brandon Tripp and Travis Higgs, as they scored first and second run for Fargo-Moorhead. That was in the bottom of the second inning, when Tripp found a gap for a first hit for the home team. Higgs did not hesitate and followed up with a double to put runners on second and third. Michael Thompson was up next, and his 5-3 fielder’s choice scored Tripp as the RedHawks get on the scoreboard. With two outs, Zach Penprase (who was back in the starting line-up after a nine-day break) came up with a clutch hit, easily scoring Higgs to make it 3-2 Canaries.

Tying run for the RedHawks came with the lead-off man, Frank Salerno. He drew a walk, and after Nic Jackson’s hit, he moved to third base, which gave an opportunity to C.J. Retherford, who roped an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 3 apiece.

However, that have not lasted long. In the very next half of the inning, the Canaries took it upon themselves to tie up the ballgame. Carlos Mendez saw a 2-0 pitch and sent it for a single. Chris Valencia stepped in and roped a base hit to right field. With nobody out, next up was Stephen Branca, collecting the RBI by scoring Mendez for a 4-3 lead.

The RedHawks opened the floodgates in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first six ‘Hawks reached safely, with two singles, walk and back-to-back-to-back base hits the Fargo-Moorhead’s team put up a five-spot on Kyle Vazquez. Salerno singled, and so did Bourquin. Loading the bases was Jackson wit ha four-pitch walk. Retherford did not hesitate and got himself 2 RBIs with a single. Tripp plated one more on a double, and Higgs did as well, which meant the score 8-4 at that point, and wrapped up the night for Vazquez.

Top of the seventh brought two runs for the visitors, as a sellout crowd of 4,508 fans saw Kevin Dultz battle out a base hit (and later score), with Ty Forney following up with a double. Steven Tinoco’s fielder’s choice in a form of 4-3 meant an RBI for him, fifth run for the Canaries and a pitching substitution, as Kevin Fuqua replaced Taylor Stanton. First hitter Fuqua faced had a same result as the previous hitter, Brandon Jones’ 4-3 scored Forney.

Two-run answer followed up the very next half-inning, double by Tripp to lead off the inning, and with two outs, another clutch hit by Penprase plated Tripp, and Salerno’s second hit of the ballgame brought home Penprase. After seven complete innings, RedHawks were beating Canaries 10-6.

That remained the final score, with Taylor Stanton being credited with the win and is now 6-11, while Kyle Vazquez took the loss on the evening and falls to 5-9. There was no save on the evening.

Second game of the series picks up tomorrow at 6pm. Tickets available at www.fmredhawks.com or at (701) 235-6161.