FARGO, N.D. — Matt Bywater was brilliant, tossing a three-hit shutout as the Saltdogs (11-9) blanked the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (10-11) 7-0 in front of 3,243 fans at Newman Outdoor Field Thursday afternoon.
Bywater (2-1) pitched nine innings, allowing no runs on three hits, walking one and fanning nine to earn the victory.
Lincoln scored two runs in the second on RBI singles from Matt Forgatch and Sean O'Connell. The 'Dogs added two in the eighth on Dennis Raben's eighth home run of the season.
Alex Caldera (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out eight and walking two but suffered the loss.
Raben finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Forgatch went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Bywater was in command the whole day, retiring the first 10 men he faced. The 23-year old southpaw fanned seven his first time through the order.
The 'Dogs are back home Friday night at 7:05 p.m. hosting the Sioux City Explorers. Joe Bisenius (3-0, 3.52) will face Richard Salazar (0-0, 5.40). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.