News

FARGO, N.D. – It took a dramatic ending, but the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks earned their 1,000^th regular-season franchise victory by scoring three runs in the ninth to finish a comeback and win 5-3 Thursday at Newman Outdoor Field.

The RedHawks trailed 3-2 heading to the final frame. C.J. Retherford reached base on a fielding error to start the inning and after a foul-popout, would advance to third on a Tim Alberts single and subsequent throwing error that also moved Alberts to second. Mitch Einertson followed and drove in Retherford on an RBI groundout, tying the game 3-3.

With a runner on third and two outs, Buddy Sosnoskie picked an opportune time to get his first hit of the game.

After falling behind to a 2-2 count and fouling off two pitches, Sosnoskie drove a Mark Hamburger pitch over the right-field fence to secure the RedHawks’ victory – earning the club’s 1,000^th win and also securing a three-game series defeat of St. Paul.

“I was trying to just get a hit unlike last night,” Sosnoskie said of his final at-bat. “I was trying to go to left field and instead I just got out there on a fastball and pulled it.”

St. Paul (33-31) starter Mark Hamburger gave up a two-run home run in the first to C.J. Retherford, but kept Fargo-Moorhead (40-25) scoreless for the next seven innings by allowing only two more hits until the ninth. He dropped to 4-4 after throwing 8 2/3 innings and allowed only six hits and two earned runs.

Nate Kilcrease improved to 3-2 for the RedHawks after coming out of the bullpen in the seventh. Trailing 3-2 with runners on first and third and no outs, Kilcrease came in and forced an infield flyout and a 4-6-3 double play to keep the deficit at one run. He pitched three innings, striking out a batter and walking one. RedHawks’ starter Taylor Stanton scattered eight hits in six-plus innings, while giving up three runs.

Tim Alberts had three of Fargo-Moorhead’s six hits in the game. Ron Bourquin had the only other extra-base hit for the RedHawks. Willie Cabrera and Dwight Childs each had two hits and an RBI, while Brandon Tripp hit an RBI double in the fourth giving the Saints the initial 3-2 lead.

The RedHawks continue the six-game homestand beginning at 7:02 p.m., Friday, at Newman Outdoor Field against the Sioux City Explorers. Tickets are available at fmredhawks.com or by calling (701) 235-6161.