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FARGO, N.D. – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks battled back to beat the Sioux City Explorers in a 10-9 walk-off win, in front of 3,805 fans at Newman Outdoor Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (42-26) worked their way back against a persistent Sioux City Explorers (26-42) team after falling behind 8-3. Trailing by one in the ninth, Nic Jackson led off the inning by hitting a solo home run to knot the game up at nine apiece.  

C.J. Retherford continued the rally by reaching base on an error and was followed by a Keith Brachold single. Tim Alberts was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.

The Explorers forced Buddy Sosnoskie to hit into a fielder’s choice and got the first out of the inning. With the bases still loaded and Sioux City pulling in an outfielder into the infield, Mitch Einertson smacked a 2-1 pitch to left-center field to score Brachold for the game-winning hit.

“I got lucky, got the barrel to it,” said Mitch Einertson after hitting the game-winning RBI single in the ninth.

Fargo-Moorhead chipped away to make the comeback after scoring one in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth. Brachold led the ‘Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-5 with the winning run as well as four RBIs and a stolen base. Einertson was a force as well, hitting 2-for-3 with two runs and the game-winning RBI. Zach Penprase had a multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.

“We persevered – got some base-runners and got some timely hits,” said RedHawks Manager Doug Siminic.

Sunday’s game was a back-and-forth battle. Sioux City broke the gridlock in the fifth, scoring five runs. Anthony Kaskadden singled to lead off the inning and scored off an RBI double from Sam Judah. Bryan Pounds hit one to deep center for a three run inside-the-park home run after sliding in safe at home. Alberto Espinosa followed up with a broken-bat home run.

Sioux City’s Eddie Young, Kaskadden, Judah and Pounds all had two hits. The RedHawks got the best of Explorers’ starter Dan Jurik, who completed an inning after giving up two runs on two hits with two walks. Jurik gave way to Andy Noga who went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Chris Bodishbaugh earned the loss after giving up two runs on three hits.

Paul Burnside started for the RedHawks and pitched four-plus innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Mackenzie King threw two innings out of the bullpen and was tagged with four runs on three hits before being replaced by Danny Gutierrez. Joe Harris threw a scoreless 1 1/3 innings to earn the win – only allowing one hit.

“Everyone picks each other up and I think the momentum is just going to get rolling,” said Einertson.

The RedHawks head to St. Paul to take on the Saints for a three-game set before returning to Newman Outdoor Field on Friday at 7:02 p.m. to take on the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Tickets are available at fmredhawks.com or by calling (701) 235-6161.