The Wichita Wingnuts are more than happy to return home after the Lincoln Saltdogs completed the three-game sweep on Thursday night, winning in wild fashion, 6-5.  It was the second time in this series that the Saltdogs won in the ninth, extending the Wingnuts losing streak to four. Lincoln won their fourth straight.

The Wichita Wingnuts would take a five run lead after three. After a scoreless first inning, Tony Thomas started the second by reaching on an error and moved to second on a ground out. Logan Trowbridge and Isaiah Aluko drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, but Dimitri Koutis was able to retire Nick Kaye. It looked like he would get out of the inning, but Leo Vargas delivered a clutch base hit that scored both Thomas and Trowbridge and it was 2-0.

In the top of the third, Zach Nehrir singled to start the inning and moved to second when Thomas grounded out two batters later. It would be the two out rally that proved to be the nemesis for Kourtis as Nester singled to drive home Nehrir to make it 3-0.

Casey Harman started for Wichita and was absolutely brilliant, blanking the Lincoln Saltdogs through his five frames of work. The lefty allowed 3-hits and 2-walks, while striking out 9. That gives Harman 11 scoreless innings to start the season.

Brady Bowen tossed a scoreless sixth, but got into trouble in the seventh. Brandon Jacobs singled to start the inning and Angel Reyes followed by blasting a 1-1 pitch for his third homer of the year. That cut the deficit to one.

The Wingnuts responded with two runs of their own in the top of the eighth. For the second time in the contest Trowbridge and Aluko drew back-to-back walks. Kaye laid down a bunt that moved both runners into scoring position before Vargas was intentionally walked to load the bases. Logan Watkins then drew the fourth walk the inning, driving home Trowbridge and Aluko came home on a sacrifice fly by Nehrir.

Trailing by three once again, the Saltdogs mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth. Craig Simpson and Chad Hinshaw drew back-t0-back walks to start the inning and both came home when Reyes doubled two batters later. Reyes took third on the throw home and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Brant Whiting to tie the score at 5-5.

The game went to the bottom of the ninth, where the Lincoln Saltdogs would earn their second walk-off victory of this series. Christian Ibarra started the inning by drawing a walk, and moved to second when Omar Obregon reached on an error. Both runners moved up on a ground out before Simpson was intentionally walked. Daniel Tillman got ahead of Hinshaw 0-2, but the count evened before he threw one in the dirt that got away from Nester, allowing Ibarra to score the winning run, and the Saltdogs were victorious, 6-5.

J.R. Bunda (1-0) earned the victory with a scoreless ninth inning of relief. Angel Reyes finished 3-4 with 2-runs and 4-RBI.

The Wingnuts return home to take on the Texas AirHogs on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier