OCONOMOWOC, WI— The Sioux City Explorers (17-11) wrapped up their road series in dominant fashion, rolling past the Lake Country DockHounds (14-12) with a 7-1 win on a rain-delayed Sunday afternoon. Powered by eight strong innings from starter Zach Willeman (2-2) and a five-run outburst in the fifth, the Explorers took the rubber match and secured the series.
There was rain in Wisconsin to start the day, delaying the rubber match back about an hour.
The game got underway at 2:05 p.m., and the pitchers were rolled from the jump. Through four innings, Willeman allowed just two hits, and Brett Conine’s (0-4) only blemish was Nick Shumpert’s solo shot in the fourth.
The X’s bullpen formed a habit over the last week, allowing the big inning, but it was the offense’s turn to explode. With runners at first and second and no outs in the fifth, Zac Vooletich laid down a bunt toward third base that Luis Aviles Jr threw down the right field line, plating Josh Day.
Two batters later, Torin Montgomery singled home a run, and Kurtis Byrne knocked in another with a double to right center. When the smoke cleared, Sioux City added five runs to Conine’s ledger, only four of which were earned. The X’s had broken the game open, leading 6-0.
Day continued his torrid stretch with an RBI single in the eighth inning, tacking on the seventh run for Sioux City. Willeman shoved for seven shutout frames, surrendering four hits, striking out eight, and walking just a single batter on 94 pitches.
Steve Montgomery led him to start the eighth, and the shutout ended on the first pitch of the frame. Nick Northcut delivered a solo home run, and Lake Country finally scratched a run across. The Kent State alum completed the inning without another issue, finishing the longest start of the season by any Sioux City Explorer.
Jeremy Goins relieved Willeman in the ninth and retired the side without much commotion, and the X’s took a series win. Sioux City wins the first of back-to-back series against the DockHounds.
Sioux City has an off day on Monday but return to action Tuesday to face the Lake Country DockHounds at home. First pitch for three games is at 7:05 p.m. 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. For more information, please call the Explorers front office at 712-277-WINS. Stay tuned to the Explorers’ social media channels and the club’s website, xsbaseball.com, for all our news and updates.