WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita Wind Surge (1-0) opened the 2026 season with a 10-6 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (0-1) on Thursday night at Equity Bank Park, powered by multi-hit performances from Ben Ross, Kyle DeBarge and Maddux Houghton.
Ross drove in four runs, highlighted by a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning and a home run in the eighth. DeBarge added a solo home run in the seventh, while Houghton collected three hits, including a triple. Five of Wichita’s nine hits went for extra bases.
Right-hander Mike Paredes earned the win in relief, allowing two runs over 3.2 innings while striking out five. Right-hander Alejandro Hidalgo recorded the save, striking out two in the ninth. The Wind Surge pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts.
THE RUNDOWN
Northwest Arkansas struck first, using two walks and a fielder’s choice to set up a two-run double by first baseman Brett Squires for an early 2-0 lead. Wichita responded in the second inning when Billy Amick drew a leadoff walk and Ricardo Olivar followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Wind Surge took a 3-2 lead in the third with three consecutive hits — a leadoff triple by Houghton, an RBI double by DeBarge and an RBI single by Hendry Mendez.
Starter Ryan Gallagher settled in after the first inning, allowing just one hit over his next three innings. He finished with two earned runs on five hits over 4.1 innings.
The Naturals regained the lead in the fifth, scoring on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single before capitalizing on a throwing error to extend the advantage. Northwest Arkansas added two more runs on a two-run home run by Dustin Dickerson in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.
Wichita answered in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with three walks before Ross delivered a bases-clearing double off the right-field wall to tie the game. Olivar followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Wind Surge a 7-6 lead.
After Paredes worked a scoreless seventh, DeBarge added insurance with a solo home run in the inning. Ross capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth to extend the lead to 10-6.
Hidalgo closed the game in the ninth to secure the Opening Day victory.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wichita improved to 3-3 all-time on Opening Day and has won its last two home openers.
- The Wind Surge improved to 56-52 all-time against Northwest Arkansas.
- Wichita recorded 11 strikeouts as a pitching staff.
- Five of Wichita’s nine hits went for extra bases.
- Ross recorded his first multi-hit, multi-RBI and multi-extra-base hit game of the season.
- DeBarge recorded his first multi-hit, multi-RBI and multi-extra-base hit game at Double-A and hit his first Double-A home run.
- Houghton notched a three-hit performance.
- Olivar recorded his first multi-RBI game of the season.
- Paredes earned his first win of 2026.
- Hidalgo recorded his first save of 2026.
- Manager Nico Giarratano earned his first win with Wichita.
STAT OF THE DAY
10 — Wichita scored 10 runs on nine hits in its Opening Day victory.
WHAT’S NEXT