LINCOLN — The Saltdogs (10-12) smacked three straight two-out singles in the bottom of the ninth for the 5-4 walk-off victory over the Amarillo Sox (8-13) in front of 3,190 fans at Haymarket Park Friday night.
After Sox reliever Kellen Moen struck out the first two hitters in the ninth, Chris Anderson and Tyler Smith lined singles to set the table for a Chad Mozingo game-winning base hit to center.
Marshall Schuler (1-2) struck out Jeremy Williams with two inherited runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth to pick up the win. Moen (1-1) allowed the run in 1 2/3 innings to suffer the loss.
Brian Joynt led off the fourth inning with a solo home run for the 'Dogs, his third, which tied the game at 2-2 and extended his hit streak to 12 games. Two batters later Matt Forgatch clubbed a RBI double to give Lincoln the 3-2 lead.
Amarillo tied the game at 3-3 with a Jeff Farnham solo shot to left in the sixth, before Forgatch answered right back in the Saltdogs' sixth with a solo shot to left of his own to give the 'Dogs the lead once again.
The Sox again drew even by capitalizing on a lead-off hit batsman in the eighth, getting a stolen base and a wild pitch before the run-scoring groundout to make it 4-4.
Forgatch finished 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a stolen base, two RBI and his second home run of the year. Tyler Smith went 2-for-4 in the nine-hole.
The clubs are back at it Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two of the three-game series. RHP Justin Kuks (0-0, 1.50) will get the start for the 'Dogs against RHP Derek Blacksher (0-2, 7.94). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
The hugely-popular entertainment act "Quick Change" will be at Haymarket Park to thrill fans between innings Saturday night. Get your tickets now at www.saltdogs.com or by calling 402-474-2255.