Surge Hit Three Homers to Take Series Lead

Wichita, KS- Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Edouard Julien powered the Surge to a 10-2 victory over the Naturals on Thursday night. Wichita takes a lead in the series two games to one.

Sawyer Gipson-Long took the hill for Wichita and earned his third win of the season after pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.

The Naturals took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning from a Logan Porter RBI single and Robbie Glendinning hit into a double play which allowed Nick Loftin to score to extend the lead.

Andrew Bechtold was the spark at the plate for the Surge as he hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the deficit in half to 2-1.

Encarnacion-Strand kept the Surge going at the plate as he blasted a three-run 420-foot homer to center field to give Wichita a 4-2 lead. Encarnacion-Strand went one for four with three RBIs and a walk in the game.

Edouard Julien busted the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run homer to give the Surge a commanding 9-2 lead. Julien went one for four with a walk and three RBIs on the night.

Notes: Julien extended his hit streak to 11 games… Wichita improved to 6-2 in Turbo Tubs jerseys… Gipson-Long’s seven-inning start was the longest outing by a Surge pitcher this season. The Wind Surge drew ten walks, second most this season.

Coming Up: The Wind Surge will resume play against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals tomorrow; July 29th. First pitch is at 7:05 and gates open at 6:00. Louie Varland will get the start on the bump for the Surge and left-hander Anthony Veneziano will take the hill for the Naturals. The game will be carried by radio ESPN Wichita 92.3, MiLB.com and Windsurge.com