Late rally sinks Wingnuts

{WICHITA, Ks.} — The Wichita Wingnuts lost 5-3 in 11 innings to the Lincoln Saltdogs at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Lincoln rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to erase a 3-1 Wingnuts' lead, and then scored two more in the top of the 11th to move in front for the first time in the game.
With one out in the ninth, Leugim Barroso doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Mike Provencher walked to put the tying run on first.  After Edgar Martinez struck out Asif Shah for the second out, Stephen Holdren hit a popfly into shallow center field that fell in between a retreating Ryan Khoury and a charging Mitch Einertson.  Barroso and Provencher scored to tie the game.
John Alonso drove in the go-ahead runs in the 11th with a double off the right field wall that scored Provencher and Leivi Ventura.  Lincoln closer P.J. Zocchi worked around a walk in the bottom of the inning to record the save.
Wichita scored twice in the bottom of the first and held the lead up until the ninth.  Jared McDonald drew a one-out walk and was singled to second by John Rodriguez.  C.J. Ziegler drove in McDonald with a single to right to drive in the game's first run.  Mitch Einertson followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Rodriguez from third base.
Wichita starter Jose Perez turned in a strong outing, striking out seven and allowing one earned run in four and two-thirds innings.  Perez allowed four hits and three walks in a no-decision.
Lincoln scratched out a run in the top of the third to cut the Wingnuts' lead in half.  Barroso led off with an infield single and stole second base.  Provencher singled through the right side on a slow groundball to score Barroso.
Mike Conroy re-extended the lead to two runs with a two-out, RBI single to left in the bottom of the sixth.
Chandler Barnard started for the Saltdogs and also took a no-decision.  Barnard allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five and two-thirds innings.  Barnard struck out two and walked two.
Wingnuts' pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts in the loss.  Jeff Nadeau, Jared Simon, and Matt Nevarez totaled three and one-third scoreless innings.  Nick Walters took the loss in relief, allowing two earned runs in one inning.
The Wingnuts open a series against the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals on Monday night at 7:05 p.m.  Ben Graham makes his first start of the year and faces New Jersey right-hander Kyle Greenwalt.