BIRDS SURVIVE LATE DOCKHOUNDS RALLY TO EVEN SERIES
Oconomowoc, WI – Lake Country managed to put the winning run on second base with nobody out in the ninth inning Wednesday night. That’s when Stevie Ledesma entered the game and struck out two batters before inducing a game-ending fielder’s choice as Sioux Falls hung on for a 6-5 victory over the DockHounds.
After two scoreless innings, Kona Quiggle clubbed a one-out homerun in the third to open the scoring. Nick Gotta followed with a single and later scored on a sacrifice from Zane Gurwitz.
Lake Country got a run back in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out, bloop RBI single from Wilfredo Gimenez but Sioux Falls answered with three runs in the fifth. Jabari Henry delivered a one-out RBI single and Gavin LaValley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Trey Michalczewski produced an RBI sacrifice fly. Ozzie Martinez laid down a sacrifice an inning later to give Sioux Falls a 6-1 lead, the Birds’ largest of the night.
The DockHounds wouldn’t go away quietly, however; TJ Bennett belted a solo homerun in the sixth inning and Jordan Schaffer came through with an RBI single in the eighth. Lake Country entered the ninth inning trailing 6-3 and started the frame with back-to-back walks before an RBI single brought the ‘Hounds within two runs. A hit batsman loaded the bases before a second hit batsman brought home a run.
Sioux Falls then turned to relief pitcher Stevie Ledesma who struckout the first two batters he faced before a groundball fielder’s choice ended the game.
Gavin LaValley finished 3-3 with an RBI to lead five Canaries in the hits column as Ty Culbreth struck out eight in seven innings to earn his team-leading seventh win. The Birds are now 30-44 and will play for the series victory Thursday at 6:35pm.
