The Wind Surge offense exploded for 14 runs on 21 hits as they cruised to a game three victory over the Springfield Cardinals. With the win, the Surge move to 3.5 games above second-place Arkansas and Tulsa.
The Surge put up a six-run cushion for starter Austin Schulfer over the first two innings. Wichita got things rolling with four runs in their first appearances at the plate. After a leadoff double from Spencer Steer and a single from BJ Boyd, Roy Morales brought Steer home with a rip to right field for the first run of the evening. Leobaldo Cabrera then grounded into a fielder’s choice but was able to drive home Boyd on the play. Ernie De La Trinidad capped off the inning with a deep fly ball that bounced off the right center field wall for a two-run double. De La Trinidad’s 10th double of the year pushed the Wind Surge lead to four runs before Schulfer even stepped on the mound.
In the second inning, Roy Morales picked up the fifth run for Wichita with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field to score Steer from third. After Trey Cabbage singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, Andrew Bechtold hit his 20th double of the season to left field, scoring Cabbage and increased the lead to six runs for Wichita.
The Cardinals looked as though they would make a comeback as they scored three runs in the second and one run in the fourth to cut the Wichita lead down to just two runs. The Wind Surge plated some insurance runs in the fifth to increase their lead back to four runs. With the bases loaded and one out, the reigning AA-Central Player of the Week, BJ Boyd, stepped up to the plate and drove in two runs with a sharp ground ball through the middle of the defense to score Burt and Whitefield for an 8-4 Wichita lead.
After Springfield added another run in the seventh, the Wind Surge responded with three runs off one swing from Andrew Bechtold in the eighth. Bechtold blasted a three-run home run to deep left field for his 15th of the year. Wichita was still not done at the plate in the top of the ninth as they added yet another three runs off one swing of the bat. Leobaldo Cabrera stepped up to the plate with two on, saw a 2-1 pitch he liked, and belted a shot that left the ballpark through left field. Cabrera’s sixth long ball of the season, and second in as many games, sealed an impressive 14-6 victory for Wichita in game three of the series in Springfield.
Austin Schulfer went 5.0 innings in his 19th start of the year. Schulfer allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out five on the night. Alex Phillips pitched 2.0 innings of one-run relief. Phillips gave up just two hits and recorded four strikeouts.
NOTES: After BJ Boyd snapped his 12 game hitting streak last night, he responded with a 4-6 night at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
COMING UP: Wichita will play game four of the series against the Springfield Cardinals Friday evening (8/20). First pitch is set for 7:05 pm from Springfield, Mo. Wichita will start RHP Cole Sands (2-1, 2.83 ERA) against Springfield’s LHP Domingo Robles (2-8, 6.58 ERA).