Salisbury High School and East Stroudsburg University graduate Brian Ernst improved to 3-1 in six starts for the Fargo-Moorhead (North Dakota) RedHawks on Saturday night.

Ernst pitched 5 2/3 innings in the RedHawks' 4-1 victory over the Gary (Indiana) SouthShore RailCats.

He allowed one run on four hits, struck out two and walked four before leaving with a 2-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fargo-Moorhead improved to 32-22, taking a five game lead over the St. Paul Saints in the North Division of the American Association, an independent league.

Ernst made his professional debut four weeks ago against the RailCats. He pitched well in that no-decision outing, a 4-3 win on June 15. He didn't allow an earned run in 6.0 innings and recorded his first professional victory five days later in a 5-1 win at the New Jersey Jackals.

Ernst is now 3-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched over his six starts for the RedHawks. He has worked at least 5.0 innings in each start, allowing three or fewer runs in five outings. Four of his six starts have come on the road.

He bounced back from his first loss in his previous start and has allowed just seven earned runs in his other five starts.

Fargo-Moorhead has won five of Ernst's six starts and is 18-8 since Ernst joined the team on June 15.