The Lakeshore Chinooks took the lead in the top of the ninth for the second consecutive game. This time, they got a sac fly out to defeat the Kalamazoo Growlers to remain one of the four 2-0 teams in the South. Meanwhile, three teams are still undefeated in the North.
Rochester 6, La Crosse 7 (Game 1)
The La Crosse Loggers took the lead in the eighth and defeated the Rochester Honkers 7-6. The Loggers scored three in the fourth when Mike Rothenberg (Duke) homered and Bryce Blaum (Texas A&M) knocked in two from a single. The Honkers scored a pair in the fifth which was fueled by Andy Armstrong (Oregon State) singing in a run. La Crosse though responded for one in the fifth. Matt Hardy (UC Riverside) hit a solo shot in the sixth for Rochester and then they took the lead with three in the seventh. In the next inning, the Loggers got one from an error, tied it with a sac fly while Harrison Freed (Butler) knocked in the eventual game-winner on a single.
Battle Creek 10, Madison 2
The Battle Creek Bombers used two big innings to build a lead and defeat the Madison Mallards 10-2. The Bombers put up six in the opening inning. Sean Kippen (Olivet Nazarene) was the main reason with a three-shot run shot. Jordan Swiss (Saginaw Valley State) then hit a grand slam for the Bombers in the third, but Tyler Plantier (Richmond) hit his ninth in the bottom half which was a two-run shot. Amani Godfrey (Saginaw Valley State) threw five, allowed just one earned run on seven hits and three walks while striking out 10 for the win.
Thunder Bay 6, Eau Claire 1
The Thunder Bay Border Cats scored early and often while going on to defeat the Eau Claire Express 6-1. The Cats scored a pair in the second from a bases loaded walk and an error. Thunder Bay put up another from a wild pitch in the third and then scored on another from an error which was started by a single from Brady Gulakowski (NC State). Brandon Bossard (St. John’s) singled for the Cats in the sixth and put up another in the top of the ninth. Eau Claire got its only run in the bottom of the ninth from a solo shot by Andrew Pratt (Lubbock Christian), but Erik Key (Lamar) still earned the win after he threw seven and struck five.
Wisconsin 14, Rockford 2
The Wisconsin Woodchucks went up big early and never looked back as they defeated the Rockford Rivets 14-2. The Chucks scored seven in the first two innings. Michael Fernandez (Virginia Tech) drove in two from a single and Alex Toral (Miami) hit two RBI singles. Rockford got its only runs in the first two which was powered by Cade Bunnell (Indiana) hitting a home run. Reese Alexiades (Pepperdine) hit a solo shot for the Woodchucks. They scored five in the later innings as Jake Gross (Northwood) threw seven and allowing just two runs.
Willmar 2, Waterloo 0
The Willmar Stingers used the middle innings to take the lead and defeat the Waterloo Bucks 2-0. Matt Ornelas (Nova Southeastern) threw six, allowed nothing on five hits and three walks while striking out two. Sebastian Samuels (Montevallo) doubled in a run in the fifth and Shea Kramer (Utah) hit a sac fly in the next inning for the Stingers. Nick Mears (Sacramento City) then threw the two, faced the minimum, struck out three and converted his first save.
Kenosha 7, Fond du Lac 4
The Kenosha Kingfish prevented a lot of Fond du Lac Dock Spiders from scoring and won the game 7-4. The Kingfish scored a pair in the second which was capped off by Ben Troike (Illinois) hitting an RBI single. Fondy scored one in the third and then both teams traded runs fifth. Kenosha got one in the sixth and then three more in the seventh as Troike knocked in another run. The Spiders got two in the bottom half which was started from Troy Black (Kentucky) singling in a run, but the bullpen threw the final 1.1 scoreless to end the game.
Wisconsin Rapids 11, Green Bay 7
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored early and often while defeating the Green Bay Bullfrogs 11-7. Rapids got two in the opening inning from Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) going deep. Matthew Acosta (USC) then led off the bottom half with a home run. Steven Rivas (Long Beach State) homered for the Rafters in the third and then Wold went deep to lead off the fourth. The Frogs got two in the bottom of the fourth and then took the lead in the fifth which was powered by a solo shot from Preston Pavlica (Grand Canyon). The Rafters retook the lead in the sixth with two and then one in the seventh. They scored four in the final two innings, Green Bay got two in the bottom of the ninth, but the next guy flew out to end the game.
La Crosse 6, Rochester 1 (7 Innings) (Game 2)
The La Crosse Loggers used a big third inning and defeated the Rochester Honkers 6-1 in seven innings. Both teams traded runs in the first. The Loggers got one from a sac fly and Rochester scored on an RBI single. The five-run third inning was powered by Steve Martin (Duke) going deep for three. Eric Mock (Penn State) threw five, struck out 10 and picked up the win while Colton Larkins (Oral Roberts) threw the final two to end the second game of a double-header.
Bismarck 0, Mankato 5
The Mankato MoonDogs scored in the first two innings and defeated the Bismarck Larks 5-0. The MoonDogs scored four in the opening inning which was powered by Josh Elvir (Houston) knocking in two from a single. Mankato got its fifth and final run in the second from Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State) knocking in a run on a single. Josh Ramirez (Washburn) threw seven, allowed just five hits and three walks while striking out six to improve his record to 2-1.
Duluth 8, St. Cloud 1
The Duluth Huskies used a big ninth inning to build a lead and defeat the St. Cloud Rox 8-1. Duluth got one in the second from a wild pitch and then Kyle Jacobsen (South Carolina) led off the third with a homer. The Huskies got another in the fifth and then again in the sixth. The Rox scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. The Huskies proved the final score in the top of the ninth from a two-run single by Nicholas Sogard and an error which scored two.
Lakeshore 8, Kalamazoo 7
The Lakeshore Chinooks did it once again in the top of the Ninth and defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers 8-7. The Chinooks got five in the opening inning which was started from Christian Boulware (Panola) doubling in a run. Kalamazoo tied things in the fourth which was powered by Jonathan Foster (Butler) hitting a two-run double. Connor Christman (Florida State) jacked a home run for two in the fifth for Lakeshore, but Kalamazoo responded for one in the bottom half. The Growlers tied it in the sixth, but with a runner on third and one out, Lakeshore got a sac fly which proved to be the game-winner.
Schedule for July 6:
Battle Creek @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Fond du Lac (6:35 PM)
St. Cloud @ Waterloo (6:35 PM)
Wisconsin @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Green Bay (6:35 PM)
Eau Claire @ La Crosse (7:05 PM)
Duluth @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Madison @ Kenosha (7:05 PM)
Willmar @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Bsimarck (7:35 PM)