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The Kansas City T-Bones (23-24) offense led the way to a 16-7 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (22-23) in front of 6,856 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Friday night. 

The T-Bones wasted no time getting on the board, scoring five runs off Billy Weitzman (1-2) in the first inning.  A bases loaded walk by Ryan Fox pushed the first run across, and a double by Neb Brown scored three more.  The final run of inning came on an RBI single from Mark Minicozzi, extending Kansas City’s lead to five.

The RedHawks answered in the third, plating six runs off Justin James to take the lead.  A sacrifice fly by Nic Jackson scored Fargo’s first run of the contest, and a two-run home by Jeremiah Piepkorn brought the RedHawks within two.  A two-out double from Jeff Stevens drove in three more, giving Fargo a 6-5 advantage and chasing James from the game. 

Chris Rhoads (3-2) entered for Kansas City and retired the first batter he faced to end the inning.  Zach Penprase doubled to start the fourth inning and scored the final run for Fargo on an RBI groundout by Piepkorn.  Rhoads allowed just one run on two hits in five and one-thirds innings in the win.

Weitzman left the contest in favor of Mike Finocchi after issuing two walks to begin the bottom of the third.  A double by Minicozzi plated both baserunners, and a groundout from Aharon Eggleston scored Minicozzi, giving the T-Bones an 8-6 lead.  An RBI single by Jacob Blackwood in the fifth added another run, and a groundout by Eggleston extended Kansas City’s lead to four.  A two-run double by Greg Jacobs capped off a four-run inning, increasing the T-Bones advantage to 12-7.

The T-Bones added four unearned runs in sixth on five hits.  A single by Eggleston plated the first two runs of the inning, and Damian Rolls followed with an RBI single of his own.  The final run of the contest was scored on an RBI double by Jacobs. 

Weston Curles threw a scoreless ninth for the T-Bones.  Weitzman was tagged with the loss after surrendering seven runs on three hits in two-plus innings of work.

Piepkorn came in from third base to throw a perfect bottom of the eighth for Fargo.  Jacobs finished three-for-three with two doubles and three RBI to pace Kansas City.  Eggleston collected one hit in five at bats, but drove in four runs and scored three times.  Brown and Minicozzi each posted three-RBI games for the T-Bones as well.

Luis Villarreal (2-3, 2.84) takes the mound for Kansas City opposite Broc Coffman (6-3, 4.65) and the RedHawks in game three of the four-game set tomorrow night.  First pitch is set for 7:05.