GARY, IN -- The Sioux Falls Canaries cracked a season-high 19 hits and swatted two home runs en route to an 8-3 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats to start a three-game road series in Gary.

Tim Pahuta went 4-for-5 with a game-tying home run to continue a torrid pace in which he has gone 14-for-29 with six home runs and 13 RBI in his last seven games.  He joins teammate Jared Clark for the league lead with eight home runs along with Dennis Raben of Lincoln. Rookie and former Augustana College standout Nate Baumann produced his own 4-for-5 performance while belting his first home run of the year.

Trailing 3-2, Pahuta led off the sixth inning with a rocket into the right field seats to tie the game. After a groundout, the Canaries (9-13) rattled off four straight singles, capped by Jake Taylor's two-run base hit to center field for a 5-3 lead.

After three more singles in the seventh inning, Nick Van Stratten was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  In the ninth, Pahuta led off with a double and came home on Baumann's first home run on the year.  Baumann has been red hot lately as well, going 10-for-17 in his last four games with four doubles and a home run.

All but one Canaries hitter collected at least one hit, and all but two had multiple hits. RailCats starter Will Krout (1-2) yielded five runs and 14 hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He did not walk anybody and struck out one and took the loss.

Adam Champion (2-1) earned his second straight win, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on two hits. He struggled with command and walked six men, but he struck out four.

Matt Daly pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his first save, walking one and striking out two.

Cristian Guerrero, who last year played for Sioux Falls, gave Gary SouthShore (11-9) a brief 3-2 lead with his second home run of the year.

Game two of the three-game series against the RailCats is at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Canaries

More From KYBB-FM / B102.7