Laredo 5, Fargo-Moorhead 4 (14 Innings) – Box
Laredo C Matt Koch gets hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 14th inning as the defending champion Lemurs open up the 2016 season with a 5-4 walk-off win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Fargo-Moorhead had a 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning only to see Laredo score three in the bottom of the frame to tie it at 3-3. The contest would stay that way until the 10th as the RedHawks scored a run in the top of the 10th to go ahead 4-3. The Lemurs tied it up again in the bottom of the 10th at 4-4 before winning it in the 14th. Koch, LF Ty Morrison and CF Drew Martinez each had two hits on the night for Laredo. Lemurs reliever Jimmer Kennedy picked up the win as he went an inning and struck out two hitters.
Winnipeg 8, Joplin 1 (6 Innings) – Box
The Winnipeg Goldeyes started out the 2016 season with a bang as they rolled past the Joplin Blasters, 8-1 in a game shorten due to rain. Winnipeg C Tanner Murphy, CF Reggie Abercrombie and 2B Casio Grider each hit early home runs to stake the Goldeyes to a 6-0 lead after 2 ½ innings. Abercrombie plated two runs in a 1-for-3 day and Grider went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Winnipeg starting pitcher Mikey O’Brien notched the win as he went five innings allowing an earned run on four hits. For Joplin in the loss, CF Ronnie Richardson was 1-for-2 and scored their only run.
Lincoln 6, Wichita 1 – Box
Lincoln scored four runs in the second inning to roll out to a 4-0 lead and would cruise from there to a 6-1 opening night victory over the Wichita Wingnuts. Saltdogs DH Rene Leveret had a huge night at the plate going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI. Lincoln SS Pat McKenna drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 night while 3B Christian Ibarra, 1B Curt Smith and C Luis Alen each had two hits. Saltdogs starting pitcher Shairon Martis tossed five solid innings of work to notch the win. Martis gave up an earned run on four hits and struck out four batters. Wichita CF Harrison Kain went a perfect 4-for-4 with a RBI at the plate.
Kansas City 9, Texas 4 – Box
After Texas scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead, Kansas City came back with four of their own in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead for good and take a 9-4 victory. T-Bones DH Anthony Gallas led the way offensively going 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks and two RBI. Kansas City LF Robby Kuzdale and RF Christian Torres each collected two hits and 3B Brandon Tierney plated two runs. T-Bones starting pitcher Casey Barnes picked up the victory as he allowed four earned runs on five hits in six innings pitched.
St. Paul 8, Gary SouthShore 3 – Box
Scoreless through 3 ½ innings, the St. Paul Saints broke through with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and rolled to an 8-3 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. St. Paul’s 6-7 hitters of 3B Nate Hanson and SS Mike Gilmartin did the damage offensively as they combined for five hits, six runs scored and two RBI. Gilmartin chipped in with a home run and CF Alonzo Harris and 2B Tanner Vavra each had two RBI. Saints starter Mark Hamburger earned the win as he tossed seven sharp innings giving up an earned run on three hits. For Gary SouthShore in the loss, C Jaime Del Valle had two hits.
Sioux Falls 3, Sioux City 0 – Box
Sioux Falls starting pitcher Misael Siverio and four relievers combined on a complete game shutout as the Canaries blanked the Sioux City Explorers, 3-0. Siverio tossed the first 5 2/3 innings allowing a walk and four hits while striking out seven batters. The southpaw went on to pickup his first victory. The relievers of Shane Street, Josh Ferrell, James Jones and Chase Johnson finished off the last 3 1/3 innings giving up only a walk and fanning five batters. All three of Sioux Falls’ runs came in the second inning as C Cameron Garfield hit a bases clearing double. Garfield went 1-for-4.
