SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 817.739.3693
Website: xsbaseball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025
EXPLORERS DROP EXHIBITION OPENER TO LINCOLN
TWO BIG INNINGS ENOUGH FOR SALTDOGS
Lincoln, Neb. – Weather in the Midwest was the winner in the preseason opener Monday night in South Dakota, but Wednesday night a change of scenery and an earlier start saw Sioux City Explorers and Lincoln Saltdogs dodge any weather issues in Nebraska in a 9-2 win for Lincoln.
The Saltdogs picked up a pair of four-run innings in the first and fifth innings to pace their offense in the first preseason tune up for Lincoln. In the bottom of the first, Lincoln scored four runs off Kyle Marman to race to a 4-0 advantage after one. Marman would strike out three in his two innings of work.
The Explorers played two and a half innings Monday night at Yankton, South Dakota against Sioux Falls and did not get on the board in the contest, but Sioux City did get on the scoreboard Wednesday night at Lincoln in the top of the third. The X’s trailed 4-0 when Kurtis Byrne drove in a run with an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-1. Byrne had a solid debut for the X’s, going two for two and throwing out two of three base runners on the defensive side.
Austin Drury would work two innings, giving up an unearned run in the fourth inning to increase the Lincoln lead to 5-1. The Saltdogs second four spot came in the bottom of the fifth off Zac Willeman to make it 9-1.
Sioux City did show some speed in the top of the sixth and what could be a preview of what lies ahead in 2025. Emilio Corona reached on an error then stole second and went to third on a throwing error on the stolen base. Dario Gomez drove Corona home with a solid single to left center to cut the lead to 9-2. Gomez also made a great catch, banging into the right-field wall on a sac fly in the Lincoln four-run fifth. He would pick up another stolen base in the seventh for two on the night. Nick Shumpert added two stolen bases in the ninth inning to give Sioux City five on the night.
Felix Cepeda came in for Sioux City in the bottom of the seventh and picked up a pair of strikeouts. The hard throwing right-hander then added another punchout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning. Cepeda retired all six batters he faced in the contest. Nate Gercken would work the bottom of the ninth despite Lincoln winning 9-2. He would see Lincoln load the bases with one out but would strikeout one and get the final out on a comebacker to the mound.
The Explorers will work out Thursday, Friday and Saturday before facing Lincoln again on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Park. Admission Sunday is free and the game can be heard on KSCJ and will stream on aabaseball.tv.
The Explorers are set to open their 32nd season in the Siouxland on the road Thursday night, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. against the Kane County Cougars. The club will celebrate opening night at Lewis and Clark Park Friday night, May 16 at 7:05 p.m., against the Kansas City Monarchs. Ticket packages for the 2025 season are on-sale now, including Full and Half-Season Tickets as well as 10, 15 and 25-game Flex Packs. More information is available by calling the Explorers front office at 712-277-WINS. Stay tuned to the Explorers social media channels and the club’s website xsbaseball.com for off-season news and updates. The official podcast of the Explorers can be found online and tune into the live show on Facebook Live during the offseason for more news and Explorers content.