Early Deficit Keeps RedHawks Grounded by K.C.
By Chad Miller, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
FARGO, North Dakota – A late effort from the RedHawks falls short as they drop game one to the Kansas City Monarchs by a score of 5-3 on a windy evening at Newman Outdoor Field.
Like the previous few games, the visiting team jumped ahead early as the Monarchs pieced together four walks and a couple of hits to score a combined four runs in the games’ first three innings. The RedHawks scored a run of their own in the bottom of the first as All-Star selection Correlle Prime homered over the center field wall for his tenth of the season.
After the first third of the game, RedHawks starter and All-Star selection Kevin McGovern started to settle in, allowing two base runners via a walk and an error as he forced a couple of double plays along with his fourth strikeout to limit Monarch bats and keep Fargo-Moorhead in the game. His night ended after delivering six innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three.
Scoring resumed in the eighth inning as a home run from Monarchs’ slugger Gavin Collins extended their lead to four runs. However, the RedHawks battled back in the ensuing half inning with Manny Boscan leading off the inning with a six-pitch walk. After a flyout, Alec Olund doubled down the right field line, putting both runners in scoring position. Matt Goodheart hit a sacrifice fly to score Boscan and a single by Sam Dexter scores Olund and brings the game to its final score after Fargo-Moorhead were retired in order to end the ball game.
With the loss, Fargo-Moorhead falls to a 27-21 record and have now lost four in a row to Kansas City dating back to their first face-off of the season back in June. The RedHawks are back in action Saturday night where they will face the Monarchs for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. with gates opening at Newman Outdoor Field an hour prior.