Boyd's Grand Slam Leads the Surge to Much-Needed Victory
NW Arkansas 4 Wichita 5 WICHITA, KS– The Wind Surge picked up a satisfying victory tonight to snap their four game skid. Wichita was led by two huge home runs and near perfect pitching performances to pick up a 5-4 victory in game five of this series. Tonight’s game remained
NW Arkansas 4
Wichita 5
WICHITA, KS– The Wind Surge picked up a satisfying victory tonight to snap their four game skid. Wichita was led by two huge home runs and near perfect pitching performances to pick up a 5-4 victory in game five of this series.
Tonight’s game remained scoreless through 7.5 innings of play. The Wind Surge broke through in a big way in the bottom of the eighth. With two on and one out, Spencer Steer was intentionally walked to load the bases. BJ Boyd made them pay with a shot over right field for a grand slam and his fourth home run of the season, propelling the Surge out to a 4-0 lead.
THE BOSS SAID IT'S TIME TO GO
— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) July 11, 2021
GRAND SLAM!! @BossManBoyd pic.twitter.com/fnkZumAz5p
Andrew Bechtold added what would be the game-winning run by following up Boyd’s home run with one of his own. Bechtold’s ninth long ball of the season landed nearly in the same spot as Boyd’s as Wichita took a 5-0 lead with three outs to go.
A little Bech bomb adds the cherry on top! 🍒@Bechtold5 pic.twitter.com/04Hqmn3u3a
— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) July 11, 2021
The Naturals, as they have been all series, would not go away as they brought the game to within one run. The Surge held on for a much-needed win and snapped a four game losing streak.
Jordan Balazovic pitched another gem in his seventh start of the season. Balazovic threw six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and struck out seven. Zach Neff picked up his team-leading fifth win of the season in two innings of relief. Neff pitched a perfecting outing as he did not allow a hit or run in two innings while striking out one.
NOTES: Starter Jordan Balazovic has pitched his last 11.2 innings without allowing a run. The Surge move back into a first place tie with the Naturals.
COMING UP: Wichita will play the series finale against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals tomorrow afternoon (7/11). First pitch is set for 1:05 pm from Riverfront Stadium. Wichita will start LHP Bryan Sammons (0-3, 6.32 ERA) against Northwest Arkansas LHP Austin Cox (0-1, 4.15 ERA). RADIO/TV: KGSO 1410 AM and 93.9 FM, MiLB.TV and Windsurge.com.