Recap of NWL’s Sunday Games
Green Bay 12, Waterloo 2
The Green Bay Bullfrogs got off to a quick start against the Waterloo Bucks in the final game of the three game series. The Bullfrogs beat the Bucks by a score of 12-2. Mike Thomas (Rider) picked up the win for the Frogs, going two innings in relief and allowing only three hits. Brad Zapenas (Boston College) led the Frogs with hits, collecting four on the afternoon. Joe Betcher (Illinois Chicago) followed with three hits and two RBI. The Bucks had fourteen hits on the day, but could only muster two runs.
Wisconsin Rapids 9, Battle Creek 4
Under ominous skies the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters loaded the bases in the top of the first, then cashed in a four run inning after an hour and thirty minute rain delay on their way to a 9-4 win over the Battle Creek Bombers. Chris Green (Northwest Missouri State) had not thrown a pitch before the rains came, but the righty worked into the sixth inning and allowed just two runs. Weaving in and out of trouble all game, he evened his season record at 2-2, recording five strike outs over five and one third innings. After the Rafters added on single runs in the fifth and sixth, the Bombers got on the board in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-3. But the offense rallied right back with three in the top of the seventh. Michael Smith (North Florida) led the way offensively for the Rafters going 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBI. Jenzen Torres (Cal Poly Pomona) ended the day 2-for-4 with two RBI while Justin Jirschele (Wisconsin Stevens Point) also drove in two on the afternoon.
Rochester 7, Brainerd 5
The Rochester Honkers beat the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers 7-5 Sunday, completing the two-game sweep. Bryan Karraker (Central Arizona) and Matt Dittman (Illinois) lead the offense for Rochester finishing the afternoon with three hits apiece. Dittman recorded three RBIs on the afternoon while Karraker chalked up two triples. Richie Jimenez (UNLV), Jimmy Waters (Kansas) and Dan Pellegrino (UC Riverside) all cashed in a two-hit afternoon. David Hurlbut (Cal St. Fullerton) made his second start for Rochester going 4.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits while fanning six Lunkers. Arik Sikula (Marshall) closed out the Lunkers by throwing 1.1 innings allowing no runs off just three hits earning his fifth save of the season.
Duluth 5, Alexandria 4
The Huskies used extra innings to beat the Alexandria Beetles 5-4 in Duluth on Sunday. The Huskies jumped out to a 4-1 lean, but the Beetles clawed back to tie it up at four in the seventh. Austin Gaines (Florida Gulf Coast) earned the win in relief by throwing 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball. The Beetles Dan Lazzaroni (Alabama Huntsville) took the loss after giving up one run in 1.1 innings. The Huskies Tyler Erickson (Minnesota Duluth) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
La Crosse 8, Wisconsin 5
The Loggers beat the Woodchucks 8-5 Sunday night at Copeland Park in La Crosse. The Loggers third basemen, Mike Marjama (Sacrament CC), had a huge performance at the plate. Marjama was 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Logger second basemen, Brett Bishop (Cal Berkeley), had three hits and a run scored. The ‘Chucks Ryan Fleming (Georgia State) had a two hit day with two RBI and a run scored.
St. Cloud 6, Mankato 0
The St. Cloud River Bats shut out the Mankato MoonDogs 6-0 Sunday at Franklin Rogers Park. The River Bats Steve Nyisztor (Rutgers) had a huge day at the plate going 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI. River Bat starting pitcher, Jason Wheeler (Loyola Marymount), threw 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball while striking out six MoonDog batters. The River Bats pitching limited the MoonDogs batters to one hit on the night while putting up zeros all afternoon.
Thunder Bay 5, Willmar 2
Willmar 5, Thunder Bay 1
After a brutal stretch of rough weather, Sunday was a gorgeous, sunny day in west central Minnesota that played host to a pair of seven-inning Northwoods League clashes between the Willmar Stingers and the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Jeff Barto (Campbellsville) threw a complete game in game one but took the loss. Thunder Bay scored three in the eighth inning to take down Willmar 5-2. The offensive story in game one was Jordan Smith’s (St. Cloud State) perfect outing at the plate. The Willmar native went 4-for-4 with four singles to inch his batting average back over .400 and ever closer to the Northwoods League lead.
Revenge was swift for the Stingers in the second game though, as Willmar came away with a crisp 5-1 victory. In game two, it was the youngster Sean Dwyer (Florida Gulf Coast) living large for the Stingers, homering to right-center to put the Stingers up 2-1 in the first inning. On the mound, Willmar sent out Wally Marciel (Kansas). Marciel was brilliant in his first start of the season, going five innings while allowing a single run on five hits and walking just one Border Cat.
Madison 5, Eau Claire 4 – Game 1
Eau Claire 4, Madison 1 – Game 2
The Mallards out hit the Express 10-3 and took the game one 5-4 on Sunday. Madison’s starter, Rusty Shellhorn (Washington State), threw 6.0 innings of three hit baseball to earn the win while Matt Heaslip (Kankakee CC) threw the final 1.0 inning to earn the save. Mallard catcher, Adam Davis (Illinois) was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Express first basemen, Josh Scheffert (Nebraska), hit a three-run home run to keep Eau Claire close.
In game two of the double header the Express were on the winning side by a score of 4-1. The Express used to long ball once again in game two for the majority of their runs. Designated hitter, Lucas Herbst (Santa Clara) hit a three run homer to break the tie. Express starter, Felix Cardenas (UTPB), earned the win throwing 6.0 innings of one run baseball.
