By Merchants beat writer, Billy Bumbomber

Fargo, ND – Greg Lunski and Steve Hirchert combined to strike out 16 batters as the Merchants overcame leaving 14 runners on base to beat the Moorhead Mudcats 4-1 at No Name Field on Wednesday.

“That was most I’ve pitched in two years,” stated Steve. “I should be ready to go again by August.”

Hirchert completed his longest outing for the Merchants since his complete game against Detroit Lakes on June 4^th, 2016.

Steve fanned 10 Mudcats in five innings of work while only allowing two hits to pick up his first save of the season.

Lunski started for the M’s and allowed one run while striking out six in four innings for his second win of the season and his 67 of his career.

The M’s managed to score four runs even though they stranded a small village on the base paths and had runners left on base in every inning except one.

The M’s were paced by their leadoff hitter Andrew Hill, Hill reached base in all five plate appearances collecting three walks and two hit by pitches. Bryan Erstad continued his hot hitting Wednesday night even though he didn’t hit a home run for only the third time this season. Erstad went 3-5 at the plate to increase his team leading batting average to .581.

The Miller Lite Merchants will take the weekend off before they take on the Moorhead Brewers next Wednesday at No Name Field.