The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks trailed by a run entering the ninth inning on Sunday evening, but battled back with three runs to defeat the Chicago Dogs, 7-5. A bases loaded walk to Brennan Metzger proved to be the game-winner. Brent Jones earned the victory and Mitchell Osnowitz came on to record the save.

The RedHawks took the lead in the top of the first-inning. Metzger led off the game with a walk and moved to second on a base hit by Trey Hair. Two batters later, Drew Ward singled to centerfield to bring home Metzger. Harris scored on a sacrifice fly by Leobaldo Pina and Ward came all the way around to score on a triple my Christian Ibarra. Fargo-Moorhead had an opportunity to add to their lead when Dario Pizzano walked to put runners at the corners with two down, but Jake Dahlberg was able to get out of the inning without any further damage by striking out Blake Grant-Parks.

The RedHawks added to their lead in the top of the third. Ibarra drew a walk to start the inning and Grant-Parks walked two batters later. With two on and two down, Metzger grounded a single into left field that brought home Ibarra to give Fargo-Moorhead a 4-0 lead.

Bradin Hagens started for Fargo-Moorhead and was brilliant through the first five frames, allowing just two singles. However, in the bottom of the sixth things unraveled for him quickly.

After striking out Joey Terdoslavich to start the inning, K. C. Hobson singled into right field. Tyler Ladendorf followed with a two-run blast to pull Chicago within two runs. Michael Crouse drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before Victor Roache flew out. With one on and two down, Harrison Smith singled bringing home Crouse. Smith had taken second on the throw to the plate and scored on a single to left field by Garrett Hope.

That would be all for Hagens. Cale Coshow came on and gave up a base hit to Blake Allemand that scored Hope to give the Dogs a 5-4 lead.

The Chicago bullpen had been outstanding after taking over for Dahlberg in the second. Casey Crosby allowed one run in two innings of work. Luke Westphal, who returned to the team earlier in the day, then through three scoreless innings.

Jalen Miller tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Adam Choplick took over with one down in the top of the eighth and retired both batters he faced but Fargo-Moorhead began to rally against the reliever in the ninth.

Ward and Pina began the inning with back-to-back singles. Ibarra struck out but Pizzano followed with a base hit, bringing home Ward to tie the score. Grant-Parks then grounded a vault to the second baseman that was misplayed for an error. That loaded the bases for Alex Boxwell. Choplick struck out Boxwell then went 3-0 on Metzger before the count went full. It looked like he may get out of the frame, but Metzger drew the walk, driving home Pina to give the RedHawks back the lead. Hair then grounded a shallow single into center field to score Pizzano to extend the lead to two.

Jones had taken over in the seventh. He walked two batters in each of the innings he pitched, but did not yield a run. In the ninth, Osnowitz retired the side in order, striking out the final two batters to win the game.

Ward finished 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Metzger and Hair each had two hits as well. Smith finished with three hits for Chicago.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier