Wallner Leads Surge to Second Straight Win

Wichita, KS- The Wind Surge defeated the Springfield Cardinals 7-6 on Thursday night behind two home runs from Matt Wallner as Wichita takes the series lead.

Matt Wallner hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to give Wichita a 5-4 lead. Wallner also hit a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Surge a 3-1 lead. Wallner finished the night two for four with two home runs and three RBIs.

Louie Varland got the start on the mound for the Surge and pitched five and one third innings and allowed three runs on five hits and struck out nine hitters before being relieved by Denny Bentley in the sixth inning.

Springfield Center Fielder Jonah Davis hit a two-run RBI double in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Davis hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning that cut the Wichita lead to just 7-6.

Wichita scored two insurance runs behind a sacrifice fly from Kevin Merrell to score Chris Williams and an Andrew Bechtold solo home run to give the Surge a 7-4 lead. Williams finished the night three for four.

Notes: The four home runs in the game, matches a season high…. Edouard Julien now has three home runs in the series… Matt Wallner hit his 17th and 18th homers of the season… Melvi Acosta improves to 2-0 on the season… The Surge improved to 13-12 in one-run games. The Wind Surge had dropped their last seven one run decisions.

Coming Up: The Wind Surge will resume action against the Springfield Cardinals tomorrow, July 1st for a 7:05 first pitch. Sawyer Gibson-Long will get the start on the mound for Wichita and Gordon Graceffo will take the hill for the Cardinals. The game will be carried by radio ESPN Wichita 92.3, MiLB.com and Windsurge.com