Canaries Slug Their Way to Doubleheader Split in Home Opener
Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Canaries opened the home portion of the 2026 schedule on Tuesday with a doubleheader split against Lake Country.
The Dockhounds scored five times in the top of the first inning and never trailed, topping the Canaries 9-7 in game one.
The Birds battled back with three runs in the bottom of the first on a Michael Curialle bases-loaded walk and a two-run single from Scott Combs
Lake Country extended their lead with a solo homerun in the third frame before Mike Hart belted a two-run shot in the bottom half.
The 6-5 score held until the sixth inning when a three-run blast put Lake Country up by four. Sioux Falls scored twice on an error in the home half but could get no closer. Combs finished 3-3 to lead the Birds offensively.
TJ Racherbacher mashed two homeruns to propel the Canaries to an 11-7 victory in the nightcap.
The Dockhounds once again got off to a hot start, pushing three runs across in the first inning. Hart answered in the bottom half with an RBI single to get Sioux Falls within 3-1.
Rachermacher crushed a solo shot to bring the Birds within a run before Joe Vos drove in two with a base hit.
Lake Country took the lead right back in the top of the third, scoring three times with two outs, before Sioux Falls responded with a three-spot of their own in their next at bat. Curialle ripped an RBI triple before Racherbaumer drove in two more on a roundtripper.
The Canaries built a 10-6 lead with three more runs in the fourth inning. Racherbaumer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Jalen Greer and Trevor Achenbach drew back-to-back walks.
Greer added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an infield single. Lake Country got a run back in the seventh inning but could get no closer.
Racherbaumer, Vos, Greer and Hart each finished with two hits while Kody Dalen tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
The Canaries (4-1) return to action Wednesday at 6:35pm.
