A full slate of action saw teams battle for key victories across the league. The Royal Oak Leprechauns continued their strong run and remain atop the Great Lakes East standings. In the Great Plains West, the Willmar Stingers continue to set the pace as the division leaders.
Royal Oak 6, Kalamazoo 5
The Leprechauns held off the Growlers 6–5 in a tightly contested matchup. Royal Oak broke a tie with a run in the seventh and added insurance late before surviving Kalamazoo’s ninth-inning rally to secure the victory. Connor Larkin (University of Oklahoma) went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a double, scoring twice. Luke Kosko (University of Cincinnati) finished 3-for-5 with a double. For Kalamazoo, Logan Tribble (University of Notre Dame) went 1-for-5 with a home run, driving in two runs, while Trevor Johnson (Duke University) went 1-for-2 with one RBI. Taylor Falls (Macomb Community College) earned the win, throwing seven innings with six strikeouts while allowing two hits, two runs, and three walks.
Rockford 18, Richmond 2
The Rivets erupted for 15 unanswered runs across the sixth and eighth innings to cruise past the Flying Mummies 18–2. Rockford broke open a close game with a nine-run sixth before adding six more in the eighth to complete the dominant victory. Joey Appino (Carroll University) went 2-for-4 with a home run, finishing with five RBI and three runs scored. Keith Eusebio (Paradise Valley CC) went 3-for-6 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored. Ashton Zacher (Lamar University) finished 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored, while Alex Tabbert (Harper CC) went 2-for-6 with two RBI, three runs scored, and one stolen base. Lewis Barbour (Harper CC) added an RBI and a run scored in a 1-for-1 effort. For Richmond, Colton Sims (West Virginia University) hit a solo home run, while Carson Bittner (Butler University) went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, and one stolen base. Sam Hays (Elgin CC) earned the win, throwing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts while allowing six hits.
Waterloo 15, Thunder Bay 6
The Bucks pulled away with a dominant middle-inning surge to defeat the Border Cats 15–6. Waterloo broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning before adding four more in the ninth to secure the convincing road victory. Collin Brightwell (Vanderbilt University) went 3-for-6 with a home run and a double, recording five RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base. Larry Edwards (McNeese State University) went 1-for-3 with a triple, driving in two runs, scoring twice, and stealing one base. Jake Slade (Murray State University) finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored, while Anthony Massa (Longwood University) went 2-for-5 with a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice. For Thunder Bay, Alex Kean (University of NC at Asheville) went 2-for-4 with a double, driving in three runs and stealing one base. Cole Bronoel-Cuthrell (Kalamazoo College) earned the win, throwing five innings with one strikeout while allowing five hits, four earned runs, and four walks.
Madison 5, Wisconsin Rapids 4
The Mallards held off the Rafters 5–4, using timely offense and strong pitching to secure the one-run victory. Preston Yaucher (Penn State University) went 1-for-4 with a home run, driving in two runs. Davis Hamilton (University of Minnesota) scored three times and stole three bases. For Wisconsin Rapids, Aidan Thaxton (Butler University) went 2-for-3 with a double, recording two RBI and one run scored, while Bennet Crerar (Princeton University) finished 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases. Anthony Karbowski (University of Louisville) set the tone with a strong start, throwing 5.1 innings with nine strikeouts while allowing three hits, two runs, and three walks. Brayden Zllis (Illinois State University) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Chase Baker (Indiana State University) picked up the save, allowing one run on two hits over the final inning.
Traverse City 4, Lakeshore 1
The Pit Spitters jumped out early and never looked back, defeating the Chinooks 4–1. Cade Collins (Wofford College) went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, recording two runs scored and one RBI. Zach Carlson (Northwestern University) finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base. Benjamin Green (Oakland University) earned the win, throwing six innings with two strikeouts while allowing six hits, three walks, and one run. David Heefner (Dallas Baptist University) picked up the save with three scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing two hits and one walk.
Battle Creek 6, Kenosha 5 (10 Innings)
The Battle Jacks outlasted the Kingfish 6–5 in 10 innings. Battle Creek capitalized on a go-ahead run in the 10th and held off Kenosha to earn the extra-inning victory. Dayne Wimberly (Southeastern College) delivered the go-ahead run in the 10th, going 3-for-5 with a triple and a double while driving in two runs. Collin Taylor (Newman University) went 2-for-5 with a double, recording one RBI and one run scored. For Kenosha, Matthew Cormier (Cal State Northridge) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Chris Iannuzzi (Southeastern (IA) CC) earned the win, throwing three innings while allowing two hits, one run, and one walk.
Green Bay 6, Wausau 5
The Rockers outlasted the Woodchucks 6–5 in 10 innings. Green Bay scored the go-ahead run in the 10th before holding off Wausau in a tightly contested extra-inning victory. Dom Bello (Anderson University) delivered the go-ahead run in the 10th, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate. Boone Kirst (Winona State University) went 3-for-6 with one RBI and one run scored, while Brayden Pleau (Valparaiso University) finished 2-for-5 with a double, one RBI, and one run scored. For Wausau, Ryan Chase (University of Kansas) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Zacary Tenn (Hawaii Pacific University) earned the win, throwing five innings with two strikeouts while allowing three hits, four walks, and one earned run.
La Crosse 6, Rochester 4 (10 Innings)
The Loggers used a three-run fifth inning to pull away and defeat the Honkers 6–4. Lukas Buckner (Coastal Carolina University) went 3-for-4 with a double, scoring twice. Jake Redding (University of Hawaii) finished 3-for-5 and scored once. For Rochester, Cooper Kruk (University of Arizona) went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. Luis Martin Romero (St. Mary’s College (CA)) earned the win, throwing seven innings with seven strikeouts while allowing three hits, three runs, and two walks. Haru Takekawa (Nihon University in Japan) recorded the save, pitching two innings while allowing two hits, one run, and one walk.
Bismarck 5, Minot 4
The Larks rallied late to edge the Hot Tots 5–4. Bismarck erased an early deficit with three runs over the final four innings to secure the comeback victory. Trevor Goodwin (Indiana University Southeast) went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run. Alex Jennings (Colorado Mesa University) earned the win, throwing five innings with seven strikeouts while allowing five hits, three walks, and two runs. Logan Boertje (Missouri Baptist University) recorded the save with a perfect ninth inning, striking out one.
Duluth 6, Eau Claire 2
The Huskies pulled away late to defeat the Express 6–2. Duluth broke a tie with a three-run sixth inning and added insurance in the eighth to secure the victory. Andrew Ermis (TCU) went 2-for-4 with a double, driving in three runs and scoring once. Jack Haferkamp (UC Santa Barbara) went 1-for-3 with a double, recording one RBI, one run scored, and three stolen bases, while Wyatt Pennington (University of Evansville) finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and one run scored. For Eau Claire, Ethan Miller (University of Central Oklahoma) went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Mason Pound (Fresno State University) earned the win, throwing six innings with five strikeouts while allowing seven hits. Pierce Anderson (University of Evansville) recorded the save with three scoreless hitless innings, striking out three while allowing three walks.
Mankato 11, St. Cloud 8
The MoonDogs held off the Rox 11–8 in a high-scoring battle. Mankato answered St. Cloud’s early lead with a six-run third inning and held on after a late Rox rally. Kyle Hvidsten (Liberty University) went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double, driving in three runs. Sam Erickson (Lamar University) finished 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base, while Mikey Valdivia (Minnesota State University) went 1-for-2 with a triple, one RBI, and one run scored. For St. Cloud, Nolan Geislinger (University of Oregon) went 2-for-5 with two RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base. Aidan Byrd (Missouri Southern State) earned the win, throwing five innings with one strikeout while allowing five hits, four walks, and one earned run. Blake Gordon (Palomar CC) recorded the save with two scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing one hit.
Willmar 8, Badlands 5
The Stingers used an early offensive surge to defeat the Big Sticks 8–5. Willmar scored in three different innings and held off Badlands’ late rally to secure the victory. Merrick Rapoza (Florida Gulf Coast University) went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. David Estrada (University of Hawaii) finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Kai Gonzaga (Pomona-Pitzer) went 1-for-3, scoring three times and driving in one run. For Badlands, Gavyn Schlotterback (University of Kansas) hit a grand slam. Ryan Dalager (SW Minnesota State University) earned the win, throwing 7.1 innings with eight strikeouts while allowing four hits, three runs, and two walks. Dylan Kulper (Iowa Central CC) recorded the save with a perfect inning and one strikeout.
Wednesday’s Schedule
Richmond @ Kalamazoo (6:35 PM ET)
Rochester @ Thunder Bay (6:35 PM ET)
Madison @ Lakeshore (6:05 PM CT)
Royal Oak @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM ET)
Duluth @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM CT)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Green Bay (6:35 PM CT)
Traverse City @ Rockford (6:35 PM CT)
Wausau @ Kenosha (6:35 PM CT)
Badlands @ Willmar (6:35 PM CT)
Minot @ Bismarck (6:35 PM CT)
Mankato @ St. Cloud (6:35 PM CT)
La Crosse @ Waterloo (6:35 PM CT)
Minnesota @ Fond du Lac (6:35 PM CT)