Willmar, Duluth and Mankato all clinched a playoff spot tonight as the La Crosse Loggers lost to the MoonDogs. The second half division will come down to the Stingers and Mankato. Willmar can win it with a win and the Dogs will win it with a win and Stingers loss.
Rockford 5, Kenosha 8
The Kenosha Kingfish scored early and held off a late rally to defeat the Rockford Rivets 8-5. The Kingfish got three from when Mike Madej (NW Florida State) hit a home run. Carson McCusker (Oklahoma State) hit a two-run shot for Kenosha in the fourth. The Kingfish got another pair in the fifth, but Rockford got two in the next inning on an error. Kian O’Brien (Kent State) hit an RBI double in the seventh for the Rivets and then another two in the eighth on an error. Kenosha did get a run back in the bottom half as Brady Kais (McHenry CC) threw the final 1.1 for his second save.
La Crosse 2, Mankato 7
The Mankato MoonDogs scored six in the first three and defeated the La Crosse Loggers 7-2. The MoonDogs scored twice in the opening on an RBI single by Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State) and an RBI double from Garrett Mitchell (UCLA). MacDonald and Mitchell started a four-run third which was also powered by an error. The Loggers did managed two in the sixth when Korey Lee (Cal) hit an RBI double and Austin Murr singled in a run. Mankato got one run back in the bottom half and the bullpen finished the final four to end the game.
Duluth 1, Bismarck 7
The Bismarck Larks limited the Duluth Huskies to just four hits and won the game 7-1. The Larks scored its first in the opening inning when Braden Williams (New Mexico State) hit an RBI single. Bismarck got two more in the as both were unearned while Wyatt Ulrich (St. Johns) hit a double. They put up another in the third on an RBI single from Ulrich. Bismarck scored another pair in the sixth on a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk. Danny Kuhn (St. Johns (MN)) threw five scoreless for the Larks and struck out three. Zack Jones (Rockford) threw four in relief and allowed just one unearned run and struck out two. Duluth got one in the seventh from a run-scoring double by Tony Monroy (Georgetown). Bismarck then got another in the eighth and sent the Huskies down in the next two innings to win the game.
Fond du Lac 7, Madison 11
The Madison Mallards used a big eighth inning and defeated the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 11-7. Madison got one in the first when Tyler Plantier (Richmond) hit an RBI single. Fondy got a pair in the second to take the lead on consecutive RBI singles from Jordan Prendiz (UCLA) and Alex Erro (Northwestern). Andrew Bullock (Western Carolina) hit a two-run shot in the third for the Spiders. The Mallards tied it in the bottom half on a wild pitch, bases loaded walk and an error. The Spiders though retook the lead in the fourth on an RBI fielder’s choice and a balk. Fondy scored once more in the fifth and then Madison scored in the seventh. Then in the eighth, the Mallards exploded to take the lead with six as Drew Ober (UNC Charlotte) knocked in two from a double and the bullpen threw the final four to end the game.
Green Bay 1, Wisconsin Rapids 4
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters used a big eight inning and defeated the Green Bay Bullfrogs 4-1. Both teams got runs in the fourth. The Bullfrogs got one on a bases loaded walk and Payton Robertson (LSU-Shreveport) hit an RBI single for the Rafters. Chandler Greenfield (Dixie State) threw five innings in his start for Rapids, allowed just the one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five. Rapids got three in the eighth to take the lead on a bases loaded hit by pitch and a two-run single from Brody Wofford (UCF). Jonathan Hernandez (Chapman) threw the final 2.2 and allowed just one hit for his third win.
Wisconsin 6, Lakeshore 2
The Wisconsin Woodchucks used a big fifth and defeated the Lakeshore Chinooks 6-2. The Woodchucks got it first in the fourth on an RBI single from Zach DeLoach (Texas A&M). Wisconsin scored four in the fifth from a two-run single by Javier Valdes (FIU) and an error. The Chucks got one in the eighth on an error. Trey Horton (Georgia State) threw six scoreless in his start for Wisconsin, allowed just four hits and three walks while striking out three. The Chinooks managed two in the eighth including an RBI triple by Ronald Sweeny III (Iowa Western), but the chucks retired the side in the ninth to end the game.
St. Cloud 2, Eau Claire 8
The Eau Claire Express scored seven in the first three innings and defeated the St. Cloud Rox 8-2. The Express got three in the opening inning on an error and a two-run double by Nick Brueser (Stanford). Eau Claire got another two in the second and third. Ryland Kerr (Eastern Kentucky) hit a homer in the top half for the Rox and then they got another in the sixth. The Express got one in the seventh and Rece Dietrich (Duluth) threw seven, allowed just the two runs and struck out five for his second win.
Rochester 5, Waterloo 8
The Waterloo Bucks used a big eighth inning and defeated the Rochester Honkers 8-5. Waterloo got a pair in the third when Trey Leonard (Louisville) hit an RBI double and the Honkers committed an error. Matt Hardy (UC Riverside) then led off the fourth with a dinger for Rochester. He did it again in the sixth as Rochester took the lead with three. Waterloo then went off for six in the eighth. Angelo Altavilla (Nebraska), Myles Emmerson (Cal Poly) and Carmen Sclafani (Rutgers) all came up with multiple RBI base hits. Danny Kapala (Minnesota) then threw 2 relief innings, struck out three and picked up his first win.
Battle Creek 5, Kalamazoo 1
The Battle Creek Bombers allowed just three hits and defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers 5-1. The Bombers got one in the first and then the Growlers tied it in the second on a bases loaded walk. Battle Creek pulled ahead by three in the fourth when Mason Jones (Trevecca Nazarene) went deep. Caleb Henderson (New Mexico State) then hit a home run in the next inning to give Battle Creek another. Amani Godfrey (Saginaw Valley State) threw four in his start for the Bombers and struck out six. Patrick Hohlfed (Jefferson) threw three in relief and struck out four for his second win.
Willmar 8, Thunder Bay 5
The Willmar Stingers used a big first inning and defeated the Thunder Bay Border Cats 8-5. The Stingers got five right away which was powered by Jayson Newman (Cal State Northridge) hitting a grand slam. The Stingers got another in the second, but Thunder Bay Managed four in the bottom half. Willie Bourbon (Northwestern) powered things with a bases-clearing triple. The Stingers got another in the fourth and then one more in the sixth. The Cats did scored once in the seventh, but Newman came in and struck out the side in-order for his 10th save.
Schedule for August 12:
Kenosha @ Rockford (1:00 PM)
Madison @ Fond du Lac (1:05 PM)
Duluth @ Bismarck (1:05 PM)
Willmar @ Thunder Bay (1:35 PM)
St. Cloud @ Eau Claire (2:05 PM)
Rochester @ Waterloo (2:05 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Green Bay (3:05 PM)
Battle Creek @ Kalamazoo (3:05 PM)
Wisconsin @ Lakeshore (5:05 PM)
La Crosse @ Mankato (6:05 PM)