Friday night baseball at Sioux Falls Stadium delivered a decisive shift in momentum as the Sioux Falls Canaries erased an early deficit to secure an 8-1 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs in the opener of their four-game series. According to official game statistics, the Canaries strung together eight unanswered runs, fueled by a 13-hit offensive performance and standout individual nights from players like Michael Curialle and Mike Hart.
The matchup, played in front of 1,275 fans, lasted two hours and forty-two minutes. With the win, Sioux Falls improved its record to 49-48 on the season, while Lincoln fell to 42-55. Despite starting strong, the Saltdogs struggled to maintain their initial advantage as the Canaries’ pitching staff locked down the game over the later innings.
Early Saltdogs Momentum Fails to Hold
Lincoln established control early in the top of the first inning against Sioux Falls starting pitcher Josh Caravalho. Cam Phelts opened the contest with a single, followed by a walk drawn by Nick Shumpert. Jairo Pomares then singled to load the bases, setting up Tanner O’Tremba, who drove in Phelts with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 lead.
However, that single run proved to be the extent of Lincoln’s offense for the evening. The Saltdogs managed just four hits total, left six runners on base, and committed no errors throughout the contest. Nick Shumpert led the visiting side at the plate by going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, but the lineup could not generate further traction against Caravalho and the Sioux Falls bullpen.
Canaries Take Control in the Fifth and Beyond
The tide turned in the bottom of the fifth inning against Lincoln starter Cam Dayton. Mike Hart ignited the home team’s offense with a one-out double. Josh Rehwaldt immediately followed with a single to bring home Hart, tying the game at 1-1. After Rehwaldt stole second base, Michael Curialle hit an RBI double to put the Canaries ahead 2-1, and Grady Mee quickly padded the lead with a single that drove in Curialle, making it 3-1.
Sioux Falls expanded its advantage in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Drake LaRoche. Following a one-out single by Curialle and another single by Mee, Anthony Hall crushed a two-run triple to push the score to 5-1. The Canaries capped their scoring in the bottom of the eighth against Jack Hill, starting when Hart launched a solo home run. Singles by Rehwaldt and Cam Hassert preceded another two-run triple by Curialle, bringing the final tally to 8-1.
Pitching Performances and Standout Statistics
On the mound, Canaries starter Josh Caravalho earned the win, improving his record to 1-1 after tossing seven strong innings. Caravalho surrendered just one run on four hits while striking out four batters and walking two. Relievers Spencer Bauer and Charlie Hasty closed out the game, pitching an inning apiece.
For Lincoln, Cam Dayton took the loss, dropping to 3-4 after working five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Relievers Drake LaRoche and Jack Hill absorbed the remaining frames, yielding a combined five runs.
Offensively, Michael Curialle paced Sioux Falls by going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, while Mike Hart finished 2-for-5 with a home run. Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Sioux Falls Stadium, with the first pitch set for 5:35 p.m. Lincoln is slated to send right-hander Cael Chatham (3-4, 7.73 ERA) to the mound, while Sioux Falls will counter with right-hander Nicholai Arbach (3-1, 6.69 ERA), with broadcasts available on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and www.aabaseball.tv.
We invite you to share your thoughts on Friday night’s matchup and join the conversation in the comments below.
