Alexandria 6 – Battle Creek 4 (10 Inn.)

The Alexandria Beetles took the series finale from the Battle Creek Bombers, winning 6-4 in extra innings. Trailing 4-1 in the top of the ninth, the Beetles tied the game with four singles and a sacrifice bunt. In the tenth, a two-out single by catcher Keith Castillo (USC) brought in the go-ahead run, splitting the series 1-1. The Bombers offense got things going in the second, loading the bases with nobody out. However, Beetles starter Mitch Handley (North Alabama) forced the Bombers to ground into a double play, escaping the early threat giving up only one run. The Beetles would tie it up in the fifth, as Wes Patterson (Tennessee- Martin) hit a two-out solo shot onto the fan deck in left. The Bombers would respond in the bottom half of the inning. After the leadoff man lined out to short, the Bombers loaded the bases again. This time, the Beetles were unable to turn a double play, and the Bombers took a 3-1 lead. The Bombers would add on what seemed to be an insurance run in the seventh, but the night was far from over. In the ninth, Trevor Edwards (UNC- Greensboro) led the inning off with a pinch-hit single. Mikel Alvarez (Florida Gulf Coast) followed suit with a bunt single, and catcher Keith Castillo drove in a run on a single to center. Castillo would later score the tying run as the Bombers attempted to capture shortstop Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) in a rundown. In the tenth, Bombers closer R.J. Hively (Cal State Fullerton) would walk two batters, setting the stage for Keith Castillo to shine. After working the count full, Castillo grounded a single through a hole on the right side of the infield, driving in the go-ahead run.  Castillo ended the night 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Alexandria relief pitcher Matt Miller (Michigan) did an excellent job shutting down the Bombers in the late innings. Miller entered the game in the eighth and pitched three innings of one-hit baseball. Miller would strike out seven batters, striking out the side in both the seventh and the eighth innings, and record his second victory of the season.

St. Cloud 6 – Duluth 2

Nick Longmire (Pacific) went deep and Pedro Ramos (Glendale C.C.) earned his second win in as many starts as the St. Cloud River Bats (1-1) downed the Duluth Huskies (1-1) 6-2 at Wade Stadium. In a nine hit attack, the Bats methodically took down the Huskies, scoring one in the second, two in the third, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. Tony Renda (Cal-Berkeley) doubled twice and drove in one in his debut in the cleanup spot. After both teams traded runs in the second inning, St. Cloud gained final separation in the third inning with an RBI single from Jonathan Roof (Michigan State) and RBI bunt from Danny Oh (Cal-Berkeley). Matt Summers (UC Irvine) doubled twice and finished 2-for-4 as the Bats swatted six doubles as a team. Brian Humphries (Pepperdine) and Longmire (Pacific) also added two-baggers. Connor Lambert (Washington State) worked two innings of scoreless relief, striking out four, before Xavier Esquivel (Loyola Marymount) tossed a perfect ninth inning.

Mankato 9 – La Crosse 5

Despite falling behind early, the Mankato MoonDogs posted a five-run second and four-run fourth to snap a two game skid as they topped the La Crosse Loggers 9-5 on Independence Day at Franklin Rogers Park. The MoonDogs (24-11, 1-1) benefited from five Loggers (22-14, 1-1) errors, as they plated four unearned runs off Logger pitching. The MoonDogs did however, have every starter but one get at least one hit. Jimmy Patterson (Arizona State) played just five innings, but made the most of his time. The rising junior was a perfect 3-3 and plated three RBI for the MoonDogs. Ryan Durant (Iowa) and KC Serna (Oregon) both had two hits, while Danny Miller (Minnesota State) knocked in a pair of runs. The Loggers got off to another quick start, scoring a run in the first with two, two-out doubles by Justin Preckajlo (North Florida) and Robert Brantley (UC Riverside). They then scored a pair in the second on a two-run single by Nick Baligod (Oral Roberts) to jump out to the 3-0 lead. The MoonDogs came back quickly, however with a big five run second in which all nine men came to the plate. Taylor Black (Kentucky) started the scoring with a deep sacrifice fly to the right field corner and was followed immediately by Serna and Miller RBI singles. Patterson then delivered the big blow, ripping a two-run single through the middle to polish off the rally. The scoring wasn’t over for the Dogs, as the fourth inning was highlighted by four runs, three of which were earned. Brian Haar (San Diego) and Taylor Black came around to score on the second error of the inning by pitcher Andrew McKirahan (Texas). Patterson followed with his second run-scoring single before the scoring was rounded out by Brenden Webb’s (Palomar CC) RBI groundout. The Loggers would get within one swing of the bat as they scored a run in the fifth on a Brandon Meredith (San Diego State) groundout and on a Greg Holt (North Carolina) single in the seventh. The Loggers did bring the tying run to plate with two outs in the eighth, but that would be as close as they would come. Four Loggers had two, as Baligod, Holt, Preckajlo and Chris Engell (San Diego) all went for a pair. Baligod was the only one to have multiple RBIs, plating two. Jake Petricka (Indiana State) tallied his first win of the year (1-2) by settling down after a rough first two innings. Kyle Simon (Arizona) came into the game with sterling numbers, but left three innings into his rocky outing. Simon (4-2) gave up eight of the nine MoonDog runs, only five of which were earned, to take the loss.

Rochester 4 – Eau Claire 3

Like they did twice yesterday, the Honkers staged another rally for a third-consecutive come-from-behind victory against Eau Claire and swept the three game set with a 4-3 win. Zach Robertson (Iowa) pitched six great innings to earn the win and help the Honkers to a 3-0 start to the second half. Eau Claire is now 0-3 since the schedule rolled over. Rochester is now 8-1 in its last nine, and is 22-13 overall. Both teams struggled defensively in the game and committed a combined six errors, and one of those miscues help the Express to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nolan Fadness (UW-Oshkosh) reached to start the bottom of the first on an error by Corey Jones (Cal State Fullerton) at shortstop and came around to score two batters later when Kole Calhoun (Arizona State) also reached on an error by Jones. But the Honkers would shake off the mistakes and settle down while starter Zach Robertson (Iowa) settled into a nice groove. The lefty allowed just three hits and the one unearned run in six innings while striking out three. Rochester finally broke though in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on Eau Claire starter Tyler Blank (Baylor) to take a 2-1 lead. P.J. Sequeira (Oral Roberts) started the inning with a single, and scored on an RBI double by Danny Brock (St. Louis) one batter later to tie the game up at 1-1. Three batters later Aaron Johnson (Illinois) would deliver another double, this time with two outs, to score Brock and pick up the 2-1 lead. Another run came across in the fifth when newcomer Scott Berke (UNLV) scored an unearned run on a double-play ball from Sequeira to make it 3-1. The fifth would be the final inning for Blank, and he finished with three runs allowed on six hits over his five innings. Eau Claire then turned to Ryan Kiel (Marshall), who managed to shut down the Honkers through the eighth, allowing just a single hit over his three innings of relief, but Devan Kline (Central Michigan) allowed an additional run to score in the ninth, giving Rochester a 4-1 lead. Meanwhile Scott McGough (Oregon) was just as effective for Rochester, and kept the Express off of the board in the seventh and eighth before passing the ball off to Arik Sikula (Marshall). The usually dominant Sikula didn’t have his best stuff, and allowed a run back on consecutive singles to start the ninth and make it 4-2. Things got worse from there, as Eau Claire followed with another single before Sikula hit a batter on a disputed play—Rochester claimed the ball actually hit the handle of the bat—to load the bases for Fadness. But a heads-up play by second baseman John Tommasini (Oregon State) would change the momentum. Fadness hit a shallow pop up which Tommasini allowed to drop in front of him before he stepped on second and threw to first for a double play. A run scored on the play, making it 4-3, but Sikula struck out the next batter to escape the jam and complete his tenth save. The win went to Robertson, who is now 4-1 while Blank took the loss, falling to 1-1. Both Sequeira and Johnson finished at 2-for-4 for Rochester, while Berke and Brock both scored a run and picked up an RBI as well. Andy Leonard (UIC) led the way for Eau Claire, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Green Bay 3 – Waterloo 2

Green Bay bounced back from Friday’s heartbreaking extra inning loss with a 3-2 victory over Waterloo on Independence Day inside Riverfront Stadium. Tony Jandron (St. Norbert) made his return to the Green Bay lineup a special one. He took the third pitch of his at-bat in the fourth and lined a game-winning RBI double to left field scoring Daniel Torrente (Missouri State). The win pushed the Bullfrogs record to 1-1 in the second half of the Northwoods League season and gave them their first win on the July 4th holiday. Jandron led Green Bay at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Six other Bullfrogs recorded a hit during the game. Riley Henricks (Portland) and Jandron each hit doubles, while Jared Andreoli (Western Kentucky) and Torrente stole a base. Brent Ebinger (Lambuth) tossed five innings to earn the win. He scattered five hits and allowed two runs – one earned – while striking out three and walking three. Alex Schmarzo (Saint Mary’s) picked up his first save of the season for the Bullfrogs. Tyler Robbins (Des Moines Area CC) and Phil Keppler (Iowa) each recorded a pair of hits for Waterloo (1-1) in the dish. Andreoli hit a single and stole second base in the opening frame. Jacob House (Arkansas) followed with a RBI single to left field scoring Andreoli to give Green Bay a 1-0 lead. Waterloo reclaimed the lead in the third inning when it scored a pair of runs for a 2-1 advantage. Willie Argo (Illinois) crossed the plate on a Bullfrog throwing error and Zach McCool (Iowa) was brought home via the sacrifice fly by Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist). Matt Argyropoulos (Washington State) scored on a two base fielding error to tie the contest at two runs apiece in the fourth frame.  The Bullfrogs retook the lead for good with Jandron’s RBI double. Scott Williams (UW-Stevens Point) took the loss giving up giving up seven hits and three runs in 7.2 innings on the hill.

Thunder Bay 7 – Brainerd 5

The Thunder Bay Border Cats, who trailed 4-2 after seven innings, brought nine men to the plate, utilized multiple suicide squeeze bunts, and scored five runs in the eighth to take the victory over the Lunkers, 7-5 at Mills Field. Until that point, the Lunkers had led the entire game. They struck first in the second as a looping single into right by Mike Martinez (Florida International) scored Michael Gedman (UMass) from third. In the fourth, the Border Cats tied the game. Back-to-back base hits knotted the game up at one apiece, but soon after, Thunder Bay would find themselves in a hole again. Back-to-back singles by Michael Gedman and Justin Gominsky (Minnesota) set up Hunter Nolen’s 2-RBI rip to put the Lunkers back up, 3-1. Both teams scored a run in the seventh, but in the eighth, the Border Cats took over. A leadoff single was followed by another base hit. A defensive miscue by the Lunkers loaded the bases, and then Thunder Bay used the suicide squeeze multiple times to even the game. After all was said and done, the ‘Cats led, 7-4. A late surge by the Lunkers put one across to cut the deficit to two, but with bases loaded and two outs, a groundball ended the Lunkers threat and the game. A.J. Schugel (Central Arizona College) went 1-3 with a run scored and drove in two runs for Thunder Bay.  Derek Hamblen (Belmont) and Eli Tupuola (Viterbo) both were 2-4 with two runs scored.  Aaron Munoz (Gateway CC) also had two hits in four at bats and knocked in one run. Cats reliever Matt Dwyer (Ripon College) picked up his first win by getting the final out of the 7th inning.  Chris Marlowe (Navarro College) gave up a run, but escaped a bases loaded jam in the last of the 9th for his 5th save.  Thunder Bay starter Miguel Valcarcel (St. John’s) got a no decision, pitching six innings and allowing three runs with a walk and three strikeouts. Brainerd starter Brad Mergen (Indian Hills CC) pitched very well in his seven inning outing. He left the game with a lead, but got stuck with the no decision. Mergen allowed just two runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out six. David Valesente (St. Joseph’s) led the team in the box by going 3-for-5 with three singles. Justin Gominsky pitched in two hits as well. Defensively, two stellar diving grabs made by Gominsky and Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke) prevented a pair of extra-base hits.

Madison 7 – Wisconsin 2

The Madison Mallards’ offense busted out for a second consecutive night in an 18-hit, 7-2 victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks Saturday to complete the two game sweep and maintain a perfect record heading into Monday’s showdown with the Battle Creek Bombers. Before the Wausau (0-2) fans were officially treated to a post-game fireworks show, the Mallards (2-0) decided to provide their own early and often by scoring two in the top of the first, one in the sixth, and four more in the seventh in the midst of an 18-hit attack. Of the team’s impressive hit total, five different players contributed two or more to that total including, Kurtis Muller (Iowa) 3, Harold Riggins (NC State) 3, Joe Patterson (Texas A&M) 4, John Hicks (Virginia) 2, and Jerrud Sabourin (Indiana) 3. Riggins also extended his league-leading RBI total to 33 with three on the night. This came a night after the Mallards pounded out 14 hits in a 9-2 victory over the same team on Friday. Matt Jansen (Purdue) picked up his fourth win of the season (4-1) in allowing only one run and six hits in 5.2 innings of work. JR Graham (Santa Clara) came on in relief of Jansen in the sixth inning and allowed a run in his 1.1 innings on the mound. Derek Self (Louisville) then threw a scoreless eight inning and Denny Clement (Texas A&M) did the same to close the game in the final frame. Meanwhile, Woodchucks starter Kyle Gumieny (Southeast Missouri State) received the loss (2-4) in allowing two runs on eight hits in only 2.2 innings of work. Leading Wausau’s offense was Troy Frazier (Kentucky) who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and one run scored.