Sep 19, 2021

Wind Surge drops close penultimate game

Posted Sep 19, 2021 2:42 AM

WICHITA – The Wind Surge fell short in a comeback attempt in game five of the series against Arkansas. With the tying run on base and the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, Wichita was unable to come through to extend or take the lead.

The Travelers did all the scoring first tonight as they scored a run in the third, a run in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth to build a 4-0 lead. In the third, Jack Laresen drove in Bobby Honeyman with an RBI single. The Travs doubled their lead in the fifth with a solo home run by Jose Caballero in the fifth. Finally, Arkansas picked up two more runs in the fifth off a two-RBI double by Jake Scheiner. The Wind Surge were unable to answer any of the jabs thrown by Arkansas until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Wichita finally made a dent in the Arkansas lead with three runs in the seventh. The Surge manufactured runs with their speed, recording three stolen bases in the inning. Jermaine Palacios led off the inning with the third hit of the night for Wichita – a single to center field. After that, Palacios stole second to set himself in scoring position. After Leobaldo Cabrera drew a walk, the Surge used their speed to send Palacios to third and Cabrera to second for a double steal. Aaron Whitefield made sure to capitalize on the opportunity with a ground ball up the middle and plated the first two runs of the game for Wichita. Whitefield ended up on third after a fielding error on Arkansas and was brought home with a sacrifice fly by Stevie Berman to bring the deficit to just one run.

In the top of the eighth, the Travelers added a run to their lead off a sacrifice fly by Jake Scheiner. However, the Surge still had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth down just two runs. Jermaine Palacios led off the inning with a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Brought in as a pinch-hitter, Trey Cabbage drew a 3-2 count walk to put the tying run on base and the go-ahead run at the plate with one out. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the opportunity for Wichita and Arkansas came away victorious in game five of the series.

Austin Schulfer kept his team within reach when he exited after 5.0 innings in his 24th start of the season. Schulfer allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three Traveler batters.

NOTES
Aaron Whitefield extended his hitting streak to four games. 

COMING UP
Wichita will play the series finale and the final regular season game against the Arkansas Travelers Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. from Riverfront Stadium. Wichita will start RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (6-7, 4.37 ERA). Arkansas’ pitcher is still to be determined. Catch the game at MiLB.TV and Windsurge.com.