Duluth 1 – Battle Creek 0
The Duluth Huskies claimed a pitching dual in Battle Creek topping the Bombers, 1-0. A single, 2 walks, and a hit batsman in the 6th pushed across the only run of the game for Duluth. Sean Yost pitched 7 scoreless innings for the Huskies, only giving up 3 hits and 1 walk, and Matt Patterson did just as well in his 2 innings of relief, only allowing 1 hit and 2 walks. Battle Creek left the tying and winning runs in scoring position in the 9th. Bombers starter Josh McElwee was the tough luck loser surrendering the 1 run in 5.2 innings while striking out 5 while relievers Tim Mowry and James White did not allow a hit in the final 3.1 innings.
Rochester 5 – Mankato 3
In front of a raucous crowd on a beautiful opening night, the Rochester Honkers kicked their 16th season off in style by defeating the Mankato MoonDogs 5-3 at Mayo Field. Zach Robertson, who was named the opening day starter after returning for this third season in Rochester and entered the game as the all-time Honkers leader in ERA and strikeouts, pitched six strong innings and allowed only a pair of unearned runs to earn the win. Matt Mulledore pitched the final three innings allowing just one run and one hit to earn a save. Most of the offense for Rochester came on a pair of big flies. A lined shot to left by Danny Brock to give the Honkers a 2-0 lead in the second and a solo homer by shortstop William Arnold in the eighth to run the score to 5-3 and give Rochester a two-run cushion going into the final frame.
St. Cloud 10 – Brainerd 8
With Major League Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew on hand, a packed house of 1,427 fans at Stewart C. Mills Field witnessed the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers surge for four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but fall to the St. Cloud River Bats on Opening Night, 10-8. St. Cloud put up four runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third against Brainerd starter Zach Kenyon. Trenton Wood worked five innings, four of them scoreless, and only gave up two hits to give Brainerd a chance to come back. The Lunkers got on the board with a pair of runs in the 5th and then again in the 8th. A series of St. Cloud errors in the 9th aided Brainerd in scoring 4 runs to make it close. Eric Marzec led St. Cloud, going 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI’s.
La Crosse 5 – Thunder Bay 0
Aaron Dott was sensational for the La Crosse Loggers in leading them to a shutout victory on opening night over the defending NWL Champion Thunder Bay Border Cats, 5-0. Dott fired 7 innings, allowing two hits and struck out nine while walking just one.
La Crosse’s leadoff batter, Tony Mueller, had four of the Loggers 9 hits in the game and 2nd place hitter Chris Engell added a pair of hits. Just two of the Loggers five runs off of Thunder Bay starter Matt Robertson were earned as the Border Cats committed three errors in the game.
Eau Claire 5 – Wisconsin 2
The Eau Claire Express limited the Wisconsin Woodchucks to just two runs on two hits to pick up the win 5-2. Eau Claire starter Gera Sanchez was dominate in his six innings of work striking out 9 Woodchucks. He allowed the two hits but no runs. Devan Kline struck out 4 batters in the final two innings to pick up the save for the Express. A balanced offensive attack for Eau Claire was led by Nate Baumann and Aaron Fujiki who collected a pair of hits each. In all, six Express hit safely on the night.
Alexandria 4 – Madison 3
The Alexandria Beetles sent five pitchers to the hill, combining to scatter nine hits and three runs for a 4-3 opening day win over the Madison Mallards. The Beetles got on the board in the second inning with a bases loaded walk. Madison would answer with two runs in the top of fifth, only to give up three in the bottom of the inning. Tyler McKendree (Flagler) was very impressive in his relief debut. The right-hander went 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out three. The Mallards mounted a comeback in the ninth, but left two in scoring position to end the game.
Waterloo at Green Bay, postponed
The Waterloo Bucks and Green Bay Bullfrogs were postponed after heavy rain earlier in the day left the field unplayable. A doubleheader will be played on Friday beginning at 5:35. Two 7-inning games will be played.
