Wednesday night's action experienced all teams in the North Division taking part in day/night doubleheaders, which resulted in Willmar, Rochester, Eau Claire, St. Cloud and Duluth all sweeping their twinbills, while Green Bay took two from Wisconsin in the South. Lakeshore and Kenosha were the only teams to play just one game on the night, as the Chinooks snapped the South-leading Kingfish's win streak, taking a narrow victory at home.
Green Bay 5, Wisconsin 4 (Game One)
The Bullfrogs took the morning contest in their Wednesday doubleheader, beating Wisconsin by a narrow margin and breaking out of their slump, improving to 13-13. Jack Strunc (Washington State) added three hits to the winning effort, while Brian Celsi (California) went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Green Bay’s starter Luke Lind (North Dakota State) collected his third victory of the year, hurling 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and struck out five. Wisconsin’s All-Star catcher Albee Weiss (Cal State Northridge) recorded his league-leading 13th home run of the season, knocking in three RBIs, as the Chucks fell to 10-14 on the year.
Green Bay 3, Wisconsin 0 (Game Two)
Building of the momentum from their game one victory, the Bullfrogs continued their success, holding Wisconsin to two hits and sweeping the doubleheader. Sam Brunner (Dayton) was stellar in the nightcap, throwing seven scoreless innings, giving up a pair of hits and striking out seven, improving his mark to 5-3 for the season. Left Fielder Brian Celsi (California) continued his success at the plate, driving in two runs, while totaling two hits. The Woodchucks did not have much to brag about after their sixth straight loss, but Taylor Kohlwey (UW-La Crosse) and Jared Oliva (Arizona) were the only Wisconsin batters to record hits on the night.
Willmar 7, Alexandria 6 (Game One)
In a back-and-forth affair between two Northern squads, the Stingers took advantage of eleven walks from Alexandria pitching, taking their third straight game over the Blue Anchors. Leadoff man Dan Motl (Minnesota) went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs or RBIs, hitting his second bomb of 2015, while 1st baseman Reagan Fowler (Creighton) totaled three hits and an RBI. Reliever Jonathon Lycan (LSU-Shreveport) tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen en route to his first victory of the season, while star closer Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast) had no worries in the 9th, dispelling any chance of an Alexandria comeback, earning his league-high 14th save. Alexandria has begun to hit a rough patch, losing their third straight, falling to .500 at 13-13, but was paced offensively by shortstop Dane Hutcheon (Montevallo) who went an impressive 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.
Willmar 7, Alexandria 4 (Game Two)
Willmar continued their push for winning both halves, collecting their fourth straight victory over the Blue Anchors, sitting 2 ½ games behind St. Cloud. The Stingers’ were led offensively by star outfielder Storm Wilson (Kentucky) who went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, scoring a run, while Tyler Leffler (Bradley) contributed a pair of hits and runs, knocking in a run. Wilson’s Kentucky Wildcat teammate Zach Strecker picked up his fourth win in four straight appearances, throwing six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits and struck out four. Alexandria’s Trooper Reynolds (Dallas Baptist) and Dane Hutcheon (Montevallo) each had three hits and scored a run in the loss, as the Blue Anchors have now fallen into sixth place in the North Division.
Rochester 12, Waterloo 1 (Game One)
The Honkers jumped out to an early lead in their Wednesday matinee and coasted to a blowout victory, breaking out of their funk and moving to 13-14. Rochester’s duo of Ryan Webberley (Cal Poly Pomona) and Miles Mastrobuoni (San Mateo) carried their team offensively, combining for four hits and eight RBIs. Starter Matt Walker (UCLA) shut down the Waterloo lineup over eight innings, giving up just one run on seven hits, striking out four as he registered his first win of the season. Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem State) was the lone Waterloo batter to provide a spark, going 3-for-4, hitting his second home run, as the Bucks have been unable to find any real success in the second half of the year, losing their fourth straight, and eight of their last ten.
Rochester 7, Waterloo 2 (Game Two)
After falling into an early deficit, the Honkers battled back to win by a comfortable margin over Waterloo in the late game, jumping to .500 at 14-14. Rochester’s Scott Schreiber (Nebraska) paced his offense with three hits and scoring three times, totaling five hits and four runs on the day, while adding a pair of RBIs. Typically a star outfielder, Matt Fiedler (Minnesota) earned his first victory pitching in almost a month, giving six innings of work, allowing just one run on two hits, striking out a season-high nine batters. Waterloo’s Matthew James (Illinois) was the bright spot behind his team’s doubleheader sweep, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks, as the Bucks have now dropped their fifth consecutive game.
St. Cloud 6, Mankato 5 (Game One)
St. Cloud plated the go-ahead run in the 8th inning, as they moved to 19-7 a top the North Division, defeating the streaking MoonDogs by a narrow margin. John Sansone (Florida State) was instrumental in his team’s victory, filling the stat sheet with three hits, three runs, two RBIs and recording his fifth home run of the season. Brian Glowicki (Minnesota) was dominant out of the bullpen, improving to 3-0 while tossing the final eleven outs in order. Mankato’s Jack Flansburg (Cypress C.C.) went 3-for-5 with an RBI as the MoonDogs fell back to 12-13, watching their five game win streak come to an end.
St. Cloud 11, Mankato 6 (Game Two)
The Rox scored six runs in the first three innings, coasting to the series sweep, winning eight of their last ten games, as they now own the best record in the second half at 20-7. A few batters powered the leaders of the North Division, including Liam Bedford (Doane College) and Lee Miller (Davidson) connected for six hits, seven RBIs, and five runs, each recording home runs in the nightcap, while Michael Strem (Boston College) added four hits and a pair of RBIs. Robbie Petty (Nicholls State) entered out of the bullpen in the 4th inning, going the rest of the way, throwing all six innings, giving up just a pair of runs on four hits, striking out two and advancing to 2-1 on the season. Coming into Wednesday riding a five game win streak, the MoonDogs have now lost two straight, however outfielder Christoph Bono (UCLA) charged the offense with three hits, and a pair of hits and RBIs.
Eau Claire 14, Wisconsin Rapids 3 (Game One)
The Express scored eight runs in the 8th inning, taking part one of their interleague doubleheader against Wisconsin Rapids, winning their third consecutive game. All but one Eau Claire batter recorded a hit in game one, highlighted by Austin Listi’s (Dallas Baptist) three hits and five RBIs, crushing his second home run of the season. Eau Claire’s ace Erich Uelmen (Cal Poly) improved to 4-1, going five innings, surrendering a pair of runs on eight hits and punching out five. Rapids designated hitter Bryce Jordan (LSU) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, hitting a solo shot, his first of 2015, as the Rafters moved back to 11-13.
Eau Claire 6, Wisconsin Rapids 5 (Game Two)
After the Rafters took a 5-1 lead after the top of the 8th inning, the Express scored five runs in the final two innings, scoring two runs in the final frame and walking off in the nightcap. Kyle Marinconz (Cal Poly) labeled himself tonight’s hero, as his two-run single scored Sam Hurt (Madison Area Technical) and Joe Gillette (Oregon State) for the game-winning victory, and sweeping the doubleheader. Closer Victor Sanchez (New Mexico) pitching a clean top half of the 9th, receiving his third win as a result of the walk off. Wisconsin Rapids fell to 11-14, however Sam Tolleson (Central Florida) hit a three-run home run in the 8th, giving him two in 2015.
Duluth 17, Thunder Bay 7 (Game One)
The Huskies scored all of their runs from the 4th inning on, leading to a rout of the host Border Cats, and moving just 3 ½ games behind St. Cloud in the division. Eight of the nine Duluth starters recorded hits, totaling 19 during the day, led by Nick Valaika (UCLA) and Kyle Comer (Minnesota-Duluth) who both recorded three base hits and combined for six RBIs. Starter Toby Anderson (Minnesota) advanced to 4-3 on the year, needing just five innings of work, allowing a run on four hits, striking out four, as he was supported by a heavy amount of runs. Thunder Bay was led offensively by Nate Nolan (St. Mary’s) and Mikael Mogues (Seton Hall) who each hit home runs in the loss, as their team remains in the basement of the division, owning a 10-16 second half record.
Duluth 6, Thunder Bay 3 (Game Two)
Duluth plated a total of three runs in the 8th and 9th innings, leading to the series sweep of Thunder Bay, raising their record to 16-10, winning their third straight contest. Huskies’ Colton Waltner (San Diego) had a season-high four hits on the night, recording his first home run of the year, while driving in three RBIs, while Terrin Vavra, who will attend Minnesota this fall as a Freshman extended his hit streak to four games, going 3-for-4 with a double. Reliever Josh McLaney (West Florida) threw three scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and moving to 3-2. Thunder Bay’s leadoff man Jared James (Long Beach State) continues to make his case as the North Division’s best hitter, going 3-for-5 with two runs, boosting his average to .354 and pushing his hit streak to four games.
Lakeshore 7, Kenosha 5
Lakeshore scored five runs in the 1st inning and held of Kenosha, taking the series opener, breaking Kenosha’s win streak and earning their twelfth game of the second half. Lucas Raley (Lake Erie) continued his terrific 2015 season, tying a league-high with his 13th home run, finishing with three RBIs, while he owns the league lead for RBIs with 48. Nick Brown (Missouri State) tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out four batters and picking up his second win of the season, while Connor Jones (Georgia) registered his first save of the year, throwing two innings, giving up a run and struck out three. Kenosha still retains a 3 ½ game lead over the rest of the South Division, but was led by Mitch Gasbarro (Eastern Illinois), who went 3-for-4, scoring twice and knocking in an RBI.
Thursday’s Schedule
Battle Creek @ Kalamazoo 12:00/7:05 PM (Doubleheader)
Mankato @ Duluth 6:35 PM
Waterloo @ St. Cloud 7:05 PM
Lakeshore @ Wisconsin Rapids 7:05 PM
Madison @ Green Bay 7:05 PM
Kenosha @ Wisconsin 7:05 PM
Thunder Bay @ Alexandria 7:05 PM
Eau Claire @ Rochester 7:05 PM
La Crosse @ Willmar 7:05 PM
