The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters held onto their lead tonight over the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders after the rain delay as they continue to post the best record in the Northwoods League. The St. Cloud Rox won again and hold a one game lead over the Waterloo Bucks in the North.
Duluth 2, Thunder Bay 6
The Thunder Bay Border Cats held the lead the entire game despite giving up two in the eighth in a 6-2 victory over the Duluth Huskies. Noah Strohl (Grossmont) knocked in two of his four runs for Thunder Bay in the first when he hit a two RBI single in the bottom half of the opening inning. The Border Cats added two more with single runs in the third and fourth inning. Strohl drove in two more when he hit a single in the seventh. Kyle Hubbuch (North Alabama) tried to help the Huskies get back into the game with a two-run double in the eighth, but Evan Johnson (Creighton) came into the ninth and closed to door for the Border Cats in his fourth appearance.
Lakeshore 3, Wisconsin 4
The Wisconsin Woodchucks came back from being down early to defeat the Lakeshore Chinooks 4-3. Lakeshore scored three in the top of the first when Nick Gatewood (Georgia State) hit a three-run home run. The Chucks responded to get one back in the bottom half. Wisconsin continued to chip away at their deficit when Jackson Owens knocked in a run from a two out double in the fifth. Stevie Mangrum (Virginia Tech) then drove in the eventual game winner for the Chucks when he hit a two-run double in the seventh. The Woodchucks bullpen threw the final four, only allowed four hits on two walks and struck out four.
Rockford 5, Madison 19
The Madison Mallards put on another hitting display as they defeat the Rockford Rivets 19-5 and improve their record to 4-6. Rockford did score first in the opening inning with four runs which included a two-RBI hit from Keith Kerrigan (Triton). The Rivets chased the Mallards’ starter after only two-thirds of an inning. The Mallards answered to take the lead in the second from a five-run inning. Two unearned scored from a Nick Schrader (Western Illinois) single and two more unearned came across from an error by the pitcher and wild pitch. Brady Pfaadt (Bellarmine) knocked in two more from a double in the fifth. Schrader was responsible for two more with a single in the seventh and another error scored two more. The Rivets got a run in the eighth, but by that point the game was out of reach as the Mallards scored eight in the bottom half including a three-run home run by Pfaadt to seal the 14-run victory.
Wisconsin Rapids 8, Fond du Lac 5
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters continue to post the best record in the League as they scored seven late to defeat the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 8-2. The Rafters and Spiders traded single runs in the second which included a Nick Fortes (Ole Miss) solo home run for Fond du Lac. The Dock Spiders took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Eric Gilgenbach (Notre Dame) hit a three-run shot. The Rafters battled back for three in the seventh, but the spiders retook the lead in the bottom half. Mitchell Mallek (St. Cloud State) then tied the game in the eighth with an RBI fielder’s choice and a Christian Jones (Campbell) double drove in the go ahead to put Rapids ahead for good.
Mankato 1, Waterloo 2
The Waterloo Bucks improve to 7-3 on the season after a one-run victory over the Mankato MoonDogs at home tonight. Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) scored first for the MoonDogs in the second when he came home on an unearned run from a sac fly. The Bucks quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third when they scored an unearned run themselves on an error by the second basemen. Deion Thompson (Western Illinois) drove in the go ahead and eventual game-winner for the Bucks in the eighth from a single to left. Both starters went seven, only gave up one run and both were unearned. Bucks reliever Matthew Perea (New Mexico State) picked up the win by throwing a scoreless eighth with the lead and Brandon Downey (Maryville) earned himself his second save of the season.
Battle Creek 3, Kenosha 5
The Kenosha Kingfish scored three runs in the sixth to lift them over the Battle Creek Bombers for a 5-3 victory. The Bombers were first on the board with a run in the third, but the Kingfish responded in the bottom half. Derek Bangert (Bradley) hit a solo home run in the next inning to give Kenosha the lead. The Kingfish then scored three insurance runs in the sixth from an error, single and a bases loaded walk. The Bombers got one back in the eighth, but Alex Manasa (Jackson CC) came in for Kenosha and picked up his third save of the season.
Eau Claire 4, Rochester 7
The Rochester Honkers turned in a six-run fifth which led to a 7-4 victory over the Eau Claire Express. The game went scoreless until the fourth when Robby Campillo (New Mexico) knocked in an RBI single. The Honkers were quick to respond in the bottom of the fifth as they put up six and chased the Express starter out of the game. Zach Zubia (Texas) got things started with an RBI single and he later scored from a two-RBI double. Another single, a bases loaded walk and an error brought in three more. Eau Claire jumped on the Honkers bullpen for three in the seventh, but the Honkers added an insurance run in the eighth. Eddie Mathis pitched six innings, only allowed the one run on six hits while striking out eight to pick earn himself the win.
Green Bay 5, Kalamazoo 4
The Green Bay Bullfrogs came back and scored five late as they defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers tonight 5-4. The Growlers scored three early in the second in which the Bullfrogs committed two errors. Trent Bauer (Ellsworth CC) put the Frogs on the board with an RBI double in the fifth. Another run came across in the next inning when Brad Hamilton (Kent State) drove in an RBI single. The Bullfrogs eventually took the lead with three runs in the seventh, but Ryan Mergener (Wayne State) hit a solo shot for the Growlers in the eighth to come within one. Green Bay starter Noah Miller (Arkansas) went out for the ninth and shutdown the Growlers for a complete game and earned himself the win.
Willmar 3, Bismarck 4
The Bismarck Larks improve to 5-5 and the Willmar Stingers drop to the same record after the Larks won 4-3 tonight at home. The Stingers scored two in the opening inning when Marcus Still (New Mexico State) hit his first home of the season. The Larks would get one back in the bottom half when Wyatt Ulrich (St. John’s (MN)) scored on a wild pitch. The Stingers increased their lead with one in the top of the sixth, but the Larks would take the lead in the bottom half with three including a two-run single from Trever Leingang (Bismarck State). The Larks bullpen threw four and only allowed the one run late as Parker Harm (North Dakota State) earned his first win of the season.
La Crosse 0, St. Cloud 3
The St. Cloud Rox continue to roll as three pitchers kept the La Crosse Loggers scoreless in a 3-0 victory. The Rox were on the board right away when leadoff man Drew Avans (Southeastern Louissiana) started the bottom of the first with a solo home run. The only other scoring inning would come in the fifth when Spencer Holcomb (Western Carolina) scored on a basses-loaded walk and Avans scored his second run of the game from an RBI fielder’s choice. Dominic Austing (St. Cloud State) started for the Rox and threw five scoreless on only four hits while striking out four. Both bullpens threw scoreless baseball, but the Loggers couldn’t find any run support.
Schedule for June 9:
Fond du Lac @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Lakeshore @ Green Bay (6:35 PM)
Willmar @ Duluth (6:35 PM)
Wisconsin @ Madison (6:35 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Bismarck @ Eau Claire (7:05 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Kenosha @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM)
La Crosse @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
