AirHogs opener suspended after 12 – to resume Saturday at 6 PM
The Grand Prairie AirHogs scored 2 runs in the ninth inning on an error by Pensacola’s third baseman John Alonso tying the score at four, sending Friday night’s home opener at QuikTrip Park into extra innings.
After once again falling behind, the AirHogs scored two runs in the 12th on Flint Wipke's triple, tying the game and sending it to be continued Saturday at 6:00 p.m. League rules prohibits the start of an inning after midnight.
Friday’s rain caused the game’s first pitch to be moved back to 7:20 p.m. in order for the grounds crew to prepare the wet field for play.
Although some of the planned activities for the season opener had to be cancelled, the night still had all the excitement associated with a first game.
Throwing out the game’s ceremonial first pitch was one of Grand Prairie’s finest, Crystal Siegler who was recently selected as the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Officer of the Year. Along with Siegler, National Football League great and Hall of Fame member Charley Taylor threw out a game opener pitch.
Starting for the AirHogs was highly touted left-hander James Paxton, who was named the number one college senior in the country by Baseball America, and is projected to receive a top ten selection in the June Major League Baseball draft. Paxton would leave the game in the fourth, pitching 3 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out 2.
The suspended game will continue Saturday at 6 p.m. with the regularly scheduled game against the Pelicans to follow.
Gates open Saturday at 5 p.m. Fans with tickets to the suspended game can redeem those tickets for a general admission ticket to Saturday’s games or for a box seat ticket to Sunday’s game.
For more information, call 972.504.9383 or visit www.airhogsbaseball.com
