Lincoln Wins Season Finale

Sioux Falls, South Dakota- The Lincoln Saltdogs wrapped up their 2026 season by defeating the Sioux Falls Canaries, 12-6, Monday, at Sioux Falls Stadium.  Lincoln sent twelve batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored six runs on one hit, helped by seven walks.  The Saltdogs salvaged the final two games of the series and split the four-game weekend set.

Lincoln (44-56) scored twelve runs, off nine hits, with no errors, and left eleven runners on base.  Sioux Falls (50-50) had six runs, with seven hits, committed one error, and left seven runners stranded.  Monday’s game lasted three hours and seven minutes and was played in front of 2,037 fans.

The Saltdogs grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning.  Facing Sioux Falls starter Garrett Martin, Cam Phelts led off the game with a single, then, stole second base.  Nick Shumpert singled, putting runners at first and third.  Then, Shumpert stole second.  Jake Hjelle grounded back to the mound, scoring Phelts.  Then, Connor Bagnieski grounded to first, scoring Shumpert, to make it a 2-0 Lincoln lead.

Sioux Falls responded in the bottom of the first.  Facing Lincoln starter Jacob Hughes, Mike Hart led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch.  Josh Rehwaldt singled.  Then, Michael Curialle drew a walk, to load the bases.  The next batter, Michael Curialle grounded into a double play, which scored Hart.  Then, Grady Mee tripled, scoring Rehwaldt, to tie the score at 2-2.

The Canaries grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second.  Trevor Achenbach singled to lead off the inning.  T.J. Racherbaumer singled.  Then, Joe Vos singled, scoring Achenbach.  Mike Hart drew a walk.  Two batters later, Michael Curialle singled, scoring Racherbaumer and Vos, to make it a 5-2 Canaries’ lead.

Lincoln got a run back in the top of the fifth.  Jacob Morrow led off with a walk.  Two batters later, Cam Phelts doubled, scoring Morrow, to make it 5-3.

The Saltdogs grabbed the lead, for good, in the top of the sixth inning.  Facing reliever Sean Gamble, Cary Arbolida led off the inning with a walk.  Tanner O’Tremba walked, as well.  Then, Calyn Halvorson singled, scoring Arbolida.  Halvorson stole second.  Then, Jacob Morrow walked.  Two batters later, Cael Chatham drew a base loaded walk.  Sioux Falls went to the bullpen and brought in Brandon Hardy.  Nick Shumpert drew a bases loaded walk.  Then, Jake Hjelle walked, driving in a run.  Connor Bagnieski knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field.  Cary Arbolida walked.  Then, Tanner O’Tremba drew a bases loaded walk, which put Lincoln in front 9-5.

In the top of the seventh, Sioux Falls brought Will Levine in, to pitch.  Jacob Morrow led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch.  Two batters later, Cael Chatham hit a bouncer to second.  Trevor Achenbach’s throw to second sailed into left field, putting runners at the corners.  Then, Nick Shumpert grounded out to third, scoring Morrow, to make it 10-5.

Lincoln added two more runs in the top of the eighth.  Facing Kody Dalen, Connor Bagnieski drew a walk, then stole second base.  Then, Cary Arbolida tripled to center field, scoring Bagnieski.  The next batter, Tanner O’Tremba grounded to third scoring Arbolida, to make it 12-5.

Sioux Falls scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth.  Facing Lincoln reliever Alex Johnson, T.J. Racherbaumer led off the inning with a hit by pitch.  Two batters later, Scott Combs walked.  Then, Josh Rehwaldt walked.  Then next batter, Michael Curialle, grounded to first, scoring Racherbaumer, to make it 12-6.  Lincoln brought Jack Hill in; to pitch and he got Anthony Hall to fly out to left field to end the game.

Saltdogs starter Jacob Hughes (6-3) earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up five runs, off seven hits, struck out five and walked five.  Jeferson Figueroa pitched a clean seventh inning.  Ryan Spalliero threw 1.0 inning and struck out one.  Alex Johnson worked 0.2 innings, giving up one run, struck out one and walked two.  Jack Hill pitched 0.1 inning, inducing a fly ball out.

Canaries’ starting pitcher Garrett Martin threw 5.0 innings, giving up three runs, off seven hits, struck out one and walked one.  Sean Gamble (3-2) threw 0.1 inning, surrendering five runs, off one hit, struck out one and walked four.  Brandon Hardy threw 0.2 innings, yielding one run and walked three.  Will Levine pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run and struck out one.  Kody Dalen threw 1.0 inning, yielding two runs, off one hit, struck out one and walked one.  T.J. Racherbaumer threw 1.0 inning and walked one.

Offensively for Lincoln, Cam Phelts was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Cael Chatham was 0-for-2 and drove in one run.  Nick Shumpert was 2-for-4 with one run batted in.  Jake Hjelle was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.  Connor Bagnieski was 0-for-4 with two RBIs.  Cary Arbolida went 1-for-3 with one run batted in.  Tanner O’Tremba was 1-for-3 and drove in two runs.  Calyn Halvorson was 1-for-5 with an RBI.

For Sioux Falls, Michael Curialle was 1-for-4 with three RBIs.  Anthony Hall was 0-for-5 with one run batted in.  Grady Mee was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Joe Vos went 2-for-4 and drove in one run.

For information on tickets for the Lincoln Saltdogs 2027 season, merchandise, and more, visit: www.saltdogs.com.