Calamanes de Barranquilla had rolled through the first two contests of the Champions Baseball League series, but finally dropped their first game, giving up eight runs in the bottom of the first inning to fall to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 10-6. Dillon Thomas led the way, recording three hits and driving in three and both Chris Herrmann and Alec Olund scored two runs and drove in a pair. Charlie Hasty earned the victory, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings.

The RedHawks left no doubt as to who would be the better team on this day, scoring eight runs on just five hits. Thomas struck out to start the bottom of the frame, and Roy Morales followed with a single. Dayson Croes walked before Max Murphy struck out. It looked like Barranquilla starter Santiago Jesus Florez Payan would get out of the inning without a blemish, but Manuel Boscan followed with a single, driving home Morales to make it 1-0. A balk moved both runners up for Chris Herrmann, who singled to extend the lead to two.

That would be all for Florez Payan, as Carlos Alberto Ocampo Batista came on. However, the results would be no different. Olund greeted the reliever with a base hit, scoring Boscan. A hit by pitch to Sam Dexter loaded the bases for Thomas, who quickly cleared them with a double to deep right-center, bringing all three runners home. Morales followed with a single to drive home Thomas, making it 8-0.

The RedHawks extended the lead to nine in the bottom of the third when Herrmann led off with a home run.

Barranquilla had done nothing through the first three innings against Fargo-Moorhead starter Ashton Goudeau, but got on the board in the fourth, scoring three runs. Jesus Valdez walked to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Derwin Dix Pomare Martinez. That brought Pabel Leandro Manzanero Norato to the plate, who drilled a 1-2 pitch for a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to six.

In the fifth, Barranquilla added two more, chasing Goudreau from the contest. Edgar Alan Robles Ortega walked to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Demetrius Isaiah Sims. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, and Robles Ortega scored when Carlos Andres Arroyo Padilla singled into left field.

Hasty came on and gave up a single to Valdez, bringing home Sims, but was able to get a double play grounder before finally ending the threat.

Each team tacked on a run. In the bottom of the seventh, Olund walked to begin the inning and moved to second on a Dexter single. A rain delay postponed the action briefly before Thomas struck out after play resumed. A walk to Morales loaded the bases and Olund scored on a single by Croes.

In the top of the eighth, Barranquilla added one more run. A single, a walk, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no one out. It looked like the visitors were going to get an opportunity to get back into this game, but Gavin Grant induced Evan Ruben Garcia Salinas to hit into a double playgrounder, bringing home a run. Valdez then flew out to end the threat.

Murphy was the only player in the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks lineup not to score a run in the contest. The 10 runs scored by the RedHawks was the most of any team through the first five games of the series.

The RedHawks now wait the conclusion of the evening contest on Saturday to determine if they will advance to the championship game on Sunday. That game will be played at 7:00 p.m.

Boxscore

by Robert Pannier