Wingnuts Attack Amarillo Early on Way to 12-2 Win
Published on September 4, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (September 3, 2015) - With the college football season kicking off on Thursday night, it was appropriate that the Wichita Wingnuts scored a touchdown in the first inning at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Handed a 7-0 lead early in the game, Scott Richmond and the bullpen had all of the support they needed. The offense continued to add to the lead throughout the remaining eight innings and helped the Wingnuts cruise to a 12-2 win over the Amarillo Thunderheads.
Wichita (57-39) sent 12 batters to home plate in the first inning against Amarillo hurler Tyler Pearson. Nick Van Stratten opened the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to immediately give the Wingnuts a lead. Following a diving catch by Juan Martinez in left, seven consecutive hitters reached base safely before another out was recorded. John Nester, the fourth hitter in the aforementioned stretch, cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to make the lead 4-0. With the bases loaded once again, Leo Vargas was hit by a pitch to force in the fifth run. Van Stratten came up with his second RBI of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right before Jayce Ray closed the scoring with an RBI double.
The lead had grown to 8-0 by the time Amarillo (43-53) tallied. Jordan Guida lifted his second home run of the season off of Richmond to reduce the deficit to 8-1. That would be the only run allowed by the right-hander in his final start of the regular season. Richmond (6-1) continued his dominating finish to the campaign by scattering five hits and striking out six. The Thunderheads scored their only other run of the evening on a later solo home run from Christian Ibarra.
The Wingnuts extended their lead to ten runs for the first time in the bottom of the sixth. With Pearson (5-6) well over 100 pitches, the bats took advantage one final time. Two men were on base when Nester drove in a run with a single and scored a run of his own when Harrison Kain shot a two-RBI base hit down the first base line. The score was 11-1 when the stanza came to a conclusion. Pearson night's ended with him having thrown a total of 145 pitches.
A bases loaded fielder's choice off the bat of Taylor Smart added one final run in the bottom of the eighth. Brad Orosey and Alex Boshers each tossed scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Every member of the starting lineup managed at least one hit as the team racked up 16 as a whole. Van Stratten and Clevlen paced everyone with three hits each, while Nester led all hitters with four runs batted in.
Wichita can secure a berth in the American Association postseason with a win in the finale of the series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jon Link (6-0) will be on the mound for the Wingnuts as Amarillo turns to RHP Alex Koronis (2-4). The conclusion of the game will be followed by a fireworks show. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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