The Texas AirHogs are quickly proving to be a lot more formidable than anyone imagined, battling back from two down to tie the score on Wednesday, sending their contest with the St. Paul Saints to extra innings. However, the Saints would prevail for the third time in this series, downing Texas 7-4 thanks to a two-run double by Max Murphy that gave St. Paul a lead they would not relinquish. Ryan Boelter earned his second victory of the season and Tom Wilhelmsen closed the contest out for his second save.

The Saints had the chance to take the lead in the top of the first when they loaded the bases with two down, but Texas starter Weiqiang Meng struck out Richard Prigatano, striking out the side to get out of the frame. His team responded with two runs against St. Paul starter Eddie Medina. Greg Golson singled with one down and scored when Dillon Thomas crushed a 2-1 offering for his third home run of the season.

In the second, the Saints had another chance to get on the board. Kes Carter led off with a single before Weiqiang got a fly out and a strike out to make it two down. Josh Allen kept the inning alive with a base hit, but the Texas starter struck out Max Murphy on three pitches, his fifth strike out of the contest to end the threat.

In the third, the St. Paul Saints would finally break through. Weiqiang retired the first two batters of the frame, but Noah Perio, Jr. kept the inning alive with a single. Richard Prigatano worked the count to 2-2 before blasting a two run homer over the left field wall to tie the score at two.

An inning later, St. Paul took the lead. Justin O’Conner singled to left. Weiqiang looked to pick him off, but O’Conner went for second on the throw to first and was safe with his first stolen base of the year. Two batters later, Josh Allen hit a sacrifice fly to drive home O’Conner to put the Saints in front.

An inning later the lead became two. Brady Shoemaker singled to start the inning and Perio moved him to third with a base hit. Prigatano grounded a ball to second that was booted, allowing everyone to reach. Shoemaker scored and it was 4-2.

The AirHogs got the run right back. Li Ning singled to start the inning and scored when Lu Zhenhong doubled down the line in left. That made it 4-3.

It was a one-run game until the seventh when the AirHogs would tie the score. Li walked to get the inning started. Two batters later Medina came out and Ken Frosch came on. He retired the second out of the inning, but gave up a double to Golson that allowed Li to score and the game was tied.

The contest went to extra innings where the St. Paul Saints would retake the lead. O’Conner started the inning with his second hit of the game. Conor Costello retired the next batter, before Josh Allen singled to put runners at first and second. That brought Murphy to the plate, who lined a double into right-center that brought both runners home to make it 6-4. Shoemaker followed with a single that scored Allen to make it 7-4.

Tom Wilhelmsen came on the ninth and gave out a one out single to Chu Fujia. However, he would get the final two batters of the frame to end the contest for his second save of the season.

Max Murphy finished 2-5 with a run and 2-RBI. Noah Perio, Jr. was 4-6 with a run scored to raise his average to .396. Both Richard Prigatano and Josh Allen were each 3-5. Prigatano plated three. The AirHogs were led by Dillon Thomas, who was 1-2 with a run, 3-RBI, and 2-walks.

These two teams will have a late morning affair on Thursday. Jeff Malm will go for the Saints. He will be opposed by Tyler Matzek. First pitch is 11:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier