2013 Semifinals: Game Two
Wichita 6, Grand Prairie 0
Christopher M. Smith (pictured) followed the script from the previous night’s action. The day after Wichita held Grand Prairie scoreless in 12 innings to take game one, Smith pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout. His performance helped the Wingnuts grab a 6-0 win and a 2-0 series lead.
Smith surrendered a single in the first inning, but was not touched again until the fifth and the ninth. Aside from those three hits, the right-hander was mostly blemish-free. Smith struck out five and walked three in the dominant effort. The AirHogs only had runners in scoring position twice against the starter, in the first and in the ninth.
On the offensive end, Jake Kahaulelio led the charge. The second baseman was 2-for-4 and drove home three of Wichita’s six runs. Ryan Khoury and Jared McDonald also had strong evenings at the plate. Both the top and bottom hitters in the Wingnuts’ order went 3-for-4. Each scored twice and Khoury added an RBI next to his name in the box score.
Smith and his supportive offense have given Wichita a chance to clinch a spot in the Championship Series for the second straight season. The Wingnuts will go for the three-game sweep on Friday, when the series moves to Wichita.
Gary SouthShore 11, Fargo-Moorhead 2
Plain and simple, Reid Fronk was the story in game two between Gary SouthShore and Fargo-Moorhead. The first baseman produced five RBI in a 3-for-4 performance, as the RailCats picked up a big 11-2 win to even the series at one game apiece.
Fronk began his assault early. His first-inning RBI single put Gary SouthShore on top from the start. But, Fronk’s finest hour was in the fifth. With the bases loaded, the cleanup hitter delivered a bases-clearing double that helped the RailCats start to break the game open. Fronk later doubled home another run to add to his fine night at the plate.
Two other RailCats hitters turned in strong performances, as well. Mike Massaro hit four singles in a 4-for-6 evening and scored a pair of runs. He was one of seven men in the Gary SouthShore order to tally multiple hits and Zac Mitchell was another. The shortstop was 3-for-3 with a double, three RBI, one run scored and two walks.
Not to be overlooked, Stephen Hiscock produced a quality game on the mound. The right-hander earned the win by pitching 6.2 innings while only allowing one run. Hiscock surrendered five hits, walked three and struck out two. That was enough to help Gary SouthShore tie the series at 1-1, as the series shifts to Gary SouthShore on Friday.
Photo courtesy of the Wichita Wingnuts
