Thunder Bay 5 – Duluth 4

The Duluth Huskies (7-13) lost a close game to the Thunder Bay Border Cats (9-10) by a final score of 5-4.  The Huskies kept the game tied until the 8th inning when they allowed 3 runs.  Thunder Bay’s starting pitcher Garrett Yount (Central Arizona) threw 5 and 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.  Chris Marlowe (Navarro College) got the victory pitching 1 scoreless inning. Starting pitcher RJ Fondon (Florida Intl) threw 7 innings giving up 4 runs (3ER) on 6 hits.  Matt Patterson (Creighton) entered the game in the 8th inning and allowed 1 run on 2 hits.  The Huskies had 6 hits on the night, and were led by Jared Womack (Oklahoma State) who went 1 for 3 with a double.  Zack Walters (San Diego) also had a double on the night.  Duluth takes on Thunder Bay again tomorrow at 5:05 PM.

Rochester 6 – St. Cloud 4 (11 Inn.)

Zach Robertson (Iowa) didn’t allow a hit to St. Cloud until the sixth inning, but he found his team behind for much of the game. In the end it would be the Honkers on top though, with a 6-4 win in 11 innings. The victory moved the Honkers past St. Cloud for first in the North Division with a 14-6 record, while the River Bats fell to 12-6. The River Bats jumped on the board first, pushing across a pair of unearned runs in the first inning despite not managing a hit. No ball left the infield in the inning, but a pair of Honkers errors allowed St. Cloud to turn it into a productive turn at bat nonetheless. But Zach Robertson didn’t let the inning get to him, and proceeded to pile up perfect innings while the Honkers climbed back into the contest. Rochester got one run back on River Bat starter David Deminsky (St. Cloud State) after Danny Brock (St. Louis) started things off with a single. He moved to second on a passed ball before being sacrificed to third and eventually came home to score an unearned run when Aaron Johnson (Illinois) bounced into a double play, making the score 2-1. No more runners crossed the plate until the fifth, when the Honkers jumped in front for the first time. John Tommasini (Oregon State) walked to start the inning and, after being sacrificed to second, he came around to even the score at 2-2 on a RBI single by Corey Jones (Cal State Fullerton). Back-to-back singles from P.J. Sequeira (Oral Roberts) and Rance Roundy (UNLV) brought Jones around as well, and the Honkers ended the inning with a 3-2 lead. But it wouldn’t last long, as the Bats came back with a pair of runs in the sixth. Kurt Schlangen (Minnesota) started the inning with a single, the first hit that Robertson allowed in the game. Schlangen was picked off for the first out, but, like in the first, a pair of errors allowed two runners to reach base. Tony Renda (California) and Matt Summers (UC Irvine) didn’t waste those runners, either, as both delivered RBI singles to give St. Cloud a 4-3 lead. Rochester came back quickly, though, when Roundy evened the score at 4-4 with an RBI groundout in the top of the seventh. The score stayed there into extra innings, but the Bats nearly won it in the ninth. Facing Jay Johnson (Prairie Baseball Academy), Matt Fanelli (Washington State) hit a one-out single. Rochester then got Scott McGough (Oregon) out of the bullpen, and he induced a ground ball for the second out, but it allowed Fanelli to move to second. Schlangen was the next batter, and he singled through the right side. Fanelli tried to come home on the play, but Roundy fired a perfect throw home to Aaron Johnson, who blocked the plate perfectly and tagged Fanelli for the final out of the inning. McGough had to escape trouble again in the 10th, and it was a good thing he did as the Honkers offense woke up in the 11th. Danny Pulfer (Oregon) hit a leadoff single, and John Tommasini and Aaron Dunsmore (Dayton) added RBI singles to give Rochester a 6-4 lead. Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) came on in the bottom of the inning, and held the River Bats to just a single to earn his first save of the season. Brock and Roundy each had three hits for the Honkers, with Roundy adding a pair of RBI. Tommasini scored two runs. Both Renda and Summers had two RBI for the River Bats. The win went to Scott McGough to send his record to 4-2 while the loss fell to Connor Lambert (Washington State) to send him to 1-2 on the year. Robertson got a no decision, but pitched seven innings allowing just four hits and no earned runs (all four St. Cloud runners were unearned).

Madison 4 – Waterloo 1

After a leadoff triple by second baseman Kurtis Muller (Iowa) that led to a sacrifice fly, the Madison Mallards (11-7, 30-22) held a 1-0 lead until the Bucks (10-9, 20-32) scored in the bottom half of the eighth inning on an RBI by Troy White (Northern Illinois) to send the game into extra innings. The crowd of better than 1,500 was treated to a pitching duel through the first nine innings until Madison broke open the game with a string of singles accompanied by a couple walks in the top of the tenth inning that led to three unanswered runs that gave the Mallards the 4-1 victory. After pitching a scoreless ninth inning, reliever Zach Cooper (Central Michigan) struck out five batters in two innings but a couple walks and timely hits accounted for the right-handed pitchers first loss of the season. At the plate, the Bucks were guided by leadoff man Tyler Robbins (Des Moines Area CC) and left fielder Pat Stover (Santa Clara) who tallied a pair of hits apiece.

Brainerd 1 – Mankato 0 

With one out and men on first and second in the tenth, Mike Kvasnicka (Minnesota) shot a dagger through the Mankato MoonDogs heart and lifted the Lunkers to the 1-0 win at Mills Field in front of 408 fans. For nine of the ten innings, the game was a pitcher’s duel. Mankato starter Bennett Whitmore (Oregon) stood toe-to-toe with Lunkers ace Dennis O’Grady (Duke) in the rubber match. O’Grady allowed just three hits in seven innings of work, walked only two, struck out seven, and lowered his ERA to 0.87. The first Lunkers hit didn’t come until the fourth inning. Mike Kvasnicka did the honors with his infield hit, but was left at first after a fly out and strikeout. Then in the fifth, the Lunkers put together their first potential scoring threat. Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke) got hit by a pitch and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then made it to third but was left stranded. In the seventh, the Lunkers had men on second and third with only one out, but weren’t able to follow through on the rally. A similar situation sank the offense just an inning later, and after eight innings, the score remained tied at zero. After going down in order in the ninth, Zack Stewart (Ohio Dominican) picked up his only hit of the night in the tenth. A lined shot into right field put him on first. He quickly moved to second though, after Stephen Wickens (Florida Gulf Coast) walked. That set up the second extra-inning walk-off single for Mike Kvasnicka this season. Kvasnicka led the team with his 2-for-4 night, and accounted for nearly half of the Lunkers five hits. Mike Frongello (Davidson) worked three scoreless innings in long relief and picked up his second win of the season.

Green Bay 5 – Wisconsin 3

The Green Bay bullpen combined to pitch its way to a 5-3 victory on Saturday night over Wisconsin at Jones Sign Field inside Joannes Stadium. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak that dated prior to the Northwoods League All-Star break. After the Green Bay (7-12, 21-31) offense spotted its pitching staff a 4-0 lead in the second inning, it buckled down and worked its way out of a pair of bases loaded jams in the fifth and eighth innings. The Bullfrog relievers were credited with a win and save for their efforts. On the offensive side of the ball, Joel Hutter (Des Moines Area CC) and Riley Henricks (Portland) combined for five of Green Bay’s eight hits. Hutter slapped a trio of singles, while Henricks hit a single and ripped a triple. Bullfrogs’ starter Joel Delorit (UW-Stevens Point) worked his way into the fifth frame before being relieved by his college teammate Tyler Lorenz. Delorit struck out six, but was tagged with a no decision as he didn’t pitch the minimum five innings required. Lorenz allowed only one hit in 2.1 innings on the bump to earn the victory. He relieved Delorit in the bottom of the fifth frame with the bases loaded and induced a ground ball to get out of the jam. Alex Schmarzo (Saint Mary’s) stuck out one to earn the ninth inning save. Wisconsin (6-12, 19-33) couldn’t find a way to plate a run all game as it stranded 12 runners on base. On the other hand, Green Bay left only four runners on base. Jeremy Richter (UW-Stevens Point) and Ben Long (UW-Milwaukee) each recorded a pair of hits to lead the Woodchuck offense. In total, eight out of 10 Wisconsin batters tallied a hit. Kyle Gumieny (Southeast Missouri State) took the loss after throwing 6.2 innings. He struck out four, but scattered seven hits and gave up four runs – two earned. Green Bay scored a quadrant of runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. The highlights of the frame were Collin Kuhn’s (Arkansas) RBI double to left field and Hutter’s RBI bunt single. Wisconsin plated its first run of the contest in the third when Joey Hainsfurther (Baylor) scored on a groundout. The Woodchucks plated a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth frame. Ben Long (UW-Milwaukee) and Casey Rihn (South Carolina) hit line drive RBI singles through each side of the infield. Wisconsin’s Chad Wright (Kentucky) hit a deep fly ball to left-center field for a triple to lead off the sixth inning. Green Bay left fielder Collin Kuhn (Arkansas) made an impressive play gunning out Wright on an attempted sacrifice fly.

Alexandria 6 – La Crosse 4

It wasn’t pretty, but it counts as a win for Alexandria.  Despite walking eleven batters, the Beetles were able to get timely outs, holding the Loggers off the scoreboard down the stretch.  Matt Miller (Michigan) was the fifth and final pitcher to throw for the Beetles, walking the bases loaded before getting the game ending strikeout. The Loggers struck first, getting a pair of runs against Beetles starter Nick Brown (Iowa).  Brown, who needed just four pitches to get out of the first inning, surrendered both runs and left after two innings with pain in his throwing arm. Bryce Uhrig (Pepperdine) came on in relief and had a very good outing.  The right-hander mowed through the Logger order, working 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. In the bottom of the fourth, the Beetles mounted their first big comeback.  La Crosse starter Aaron Gates (Pepperdine) had issues finding the strike zone all evening long, and left after walking the bases loaded.  Reliever Troy Watson (Long Beach State) then served up a bases clearing triple by Jayson Langfels (E. Kentucky) and the Beetles grabbed a 4-2 lead, one they wouldn’t give back–although they would try. Alexandria had several chances to extend their lead, but left 13 runners stranded including the bases loaded twice. La Crosse, meanwhile, also missed out on opportunities to score.  Despite drawing eleven walks, they managed just five hits and four runs, leaving 13 runners stranded. Uhrig left with one out in the sixth, and Brendan Alvey (Navarro JC) relieved, but couldn’t find the zone.  Alvey walked the first two batters he faced, before working out of a jam by getting a double play. In the seventh it was more of the same, with a five-pitch lead-off walk.  After averting that threat, Alvey walked the first Logger he faced in the eighth, and then gave up a double to Justin Prekajlo (North Florida).  Kevin Vangheluwe (Michigan) then came on and, after walking two batters and letting in another run, worked out of the inning by getting a groundout. The Beetles then had one last chance to plate insurance runs in the eighth, but after loading the bases on a walk and two hit batters, a strikeout and grounded ended the inning. In the ninth, La Crosse had one last chance.  Vangheluwe stayed in and got the first batter to fly out.  But the next walked, and the following hitter, Tony Mueller (Winona St.) singled to center field. With two on and one out, Matt Miller (Michigan) entered looking to close the door and, after getting a groundout, Miller walked the bases full.  But, Boomer Collins (Nebraska) was fooled on a 1-2 fastball, and was called out on strikes, ending the game.

Eau Claire 3 – Battle Creek 2 (10 Inn; Completion of Suspended Game on 6/19)

More than a month after the first pitch was thrown, the Battle Creek Bombers and the Eau Claire Express finished their game. Thunderstorms halted the game on June 19 in the bottom of the ninth, tied 2-2. They resumed play before tonight’s regularly scheduled contest, and the Express would emerge victorious 3-2. Back on June 19, the Bombers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Doug Otto (VCU) led off the game for the Bombers with a solo-shot to left field, his first home run of the season. Right fielder Chris Lewis (Western Michigan) would also score in the first, but that was all the offense that the Bombers would get. The Express held the Bombers to only one runner in scoring position over the next seven innings, and would tie the game up by manufacturing runs in the fourth and sixth innings. When play resumed tonight, it appeared the Bombers would win the game in regulation. Leadoff batter Josh Valle (Marshall) reached base on an error, and Jimmy Tanner (USC-Upstate) would sacrifice him over to second. The Express would hit the next two batters, loading the bases with only one out. But the next two batters would both ground out, squandering the Bombers’ great scoring opportunity. In the top of the tenth, the Express strung together two singles to put men on the corners with one out. Then, Andrew Leonard (UIC) hit a sacrifice fly to center, driving in the go-ahead run. It would turn into the game-winning run, as Bombers failed to score in the Bottom half of the inning.

Eau Clarie 6 – Battle Creek 2

More than a month after the first pitch was thrown, the Battle Creek Bombers and the Eau Claire Express finished their game. Thunderstorms halted the game on June 19 in the bottom of the ninth, tied 2-2. They resumed play before tonight’s regularly scheduled contest, and the Express would emerge victorious 3-2. Back on June 19, the Bombers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Doug Otto (VCU) led off the game for the Bombers with a solo-shot to left field, his first home run of the season. Right fielder Chris Lewis (Western Michigan) would also score in the first, but that was all the offense that the Bombers would get. The Express held the Bombers to only one runner in scoring position over the next seven innings, and would tie the game up by manufacturing runs in the fourth and sixth innings. When play resumed tonight, it appeared the Bombers would win the game in regulation. Leadoff batter Josh Valle (Marshall) reached base on an error, and Jimmy Tanner (USC-Upstate) would sacrifice him over to second. The Express would hit the next two batters, loading the bases with only one out. But the next two batters would both ground out, squandering the Bombers’ great scoring opportunity. In the top of the tenth, the Express strung together two singles to put men on the corners with one out. Then, Andrew Leonard (UIC) hit a sacrifice fly to center, driving in the go-ahead run. It would turn into the game-winning run, as Bombers failed to score in the Bottom half of the inning.