La Crosse 5, Battle Creek 4
It took 10 pitchers, 17 hits, 16 walks, and three hours and 40 minutes to complete, but the La Crosse Loggers came out on the winning end of a 5-4 game against Battle Creek on Saturday night at Copeland Park. The majority of the 3,444 in attendance stuck around till the end to witness Bennett Pickar (Oral Roberts) deliver a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap off a Loggers comeback which saw them down 3-0 after the first inning. Loggers starting pitcher Calvin Drummond (San Diego) lasted just a third of an inning as he allowed a leadoff single before walking Battle Creek’s next four batters which gave the Bombers an early 2-0 advantage. Battle Creek would score their third and final run of the first inning on a wild pitch by Drummond.
Madison 10, Wisconsin Rapids 6
The Madison Mallards beat the Wisconsin Rapids 10-6 Saturday night in front of 6,707 fans. The Mallards out hit the Rafters 15-9 and had great performances from multiple Mallards. All but two Mallards collected a hit against Wisconsin Rapids. Josh Parr (Illinois) was 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Mallard’s starter Matt Morgan (Purdue) went 7.0 innings of two run baseball while striking out seven. The Rafters were led by Brian Embery (Wayland Baptist) who was 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
Green Bay 2, Eau Claire 1
The Green Bay Bullfrogs and Eau Claire Express were locked into a pitching duel until late into the game. Green Bay found some offense in the top of the eighth inning and scored two runs, beating the Express to 2-1. Owen Jones (Portland) and Brad Goldberg (Coastal Carolina) locked up into a pitching duel for the first seven innings of the game. Both pitchers combined to only allow five hits for the first seven innings of the game. The Express scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Bullfrogs answered right back in the top of the eighth inning. The Express looked to be answering back in the bottom of the ninth. The Bullfrogs brought in Brian Burgess (West Alabama) to close the game. The first hitter he faced singled. Steven McGuiggan (University of Illinois-Chicago) singled to put two runners on base. Burgess hit Herbst to load the bases with one out. Burgess settled down and got the next batter to hit a ground ball back to him, starting the game ending double play; Green Bay won 2-1.
Rochester 3, Alexandria 0
Behind a solid pitching by starter Sean Martin (San Jose State) and the bat of shortstop Richie Jimenez (UNLV), the Honkers beat Alexandria 3-0 Saturday night. Martin earned the win in his third start of the year for Rochester, improving his record to 1-1. Martin pitched five innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit and one walk while picking up five strikeouts. Mitch Caster (Wichita State) relieved Martin in the sixth inning, pitching just one inning while surrendering just two hits. Ian Kadish (Marshall) tossed two innings out of the Rochester bullpen, giving up just two hits. Kadish has pitched 13.2 innings this season for the Honkers and has yet to allow a run. Arik Sikula (Marshall) would come in and earn his fourth save of the season, allowing zero hits in the top of the ninth.
Willmar 12, Thunder Bay 7
The Willmar Stingers took the game 12-7 on Saturday night against the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Jordan Smith (St. Cloud State) was huge again with three more hits, RBI’s, and runs scored, but it was a newcomer that delivered when it counted most, Jared Norris (Oregon State) came through with a clutch two-run single in the 8th to ice the game for the Stingers. It was a brutal day defensively for the Border Cats, as just three of Willmar’s 12 runs were earned, thanks mostly to Thunder Bay’s eight-error effort. Pitching-wise for Willmar, it was another patchwork night, with four Stinger hurlers combining in the win. This time it was Kansas lefty Wally Marciel coming away with his first decision of 2010. Marciel was solid, giving up one unearned run on three hits and a walk in a pair of innings.
St. Cloud 6, Brainerd 3
Brandon Boykin (Rutgers) bounced a two-RBI single up the middle in the eighth inning and the Bats outlasted the Lunkers 6-3 in front of 1,571 fans at Joe Faber Field. Boykin’s hit came after the Lunkers erased a 3-1 deficit with a run in the sixth and the run in the eighth. Boykin’s key hit came after the Bats loaded the bases with nobody down in the eighth inning against Brandon Baumgartner (North Dakota). Mitchell Garver (New Mexico) hit into a fielder’s choice before Boykin’s big knock scored Steve Nyisztor (Rutgers), who singled, and Devon Rodriguez (Cal), who was hit by a pitch. Joey Benke (St. Cloud State) added an RBI fielder’s choice to make it a three-run inning. Andy Berry (West Virginia) hurled 7.0 solid innings and got the no decision. The right-hander struck out six and allowed six hits.
Duluth 9, Mankato 6
The Mankato MoonDogs lost to the Duluth Huskies 9 to 6 last night at Franklin Rogers Park. The MoonDogs were able to find some offensive production as they matched the Huskies with thirteen hits overall. The Dogs’ third baseman Jordan Steranka (Penn State) and catcher Jeremy Rodriguez (Cal State – Bakersfield) both had great nights at the plate. Steranka went three for five with three runs batted in while Rodriguez, in his first appearance with the Dogs, went four for five with a run batted in. The Huskies were led by Mark Threlkeld (Louisiana Tech) who was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Wisconsin 3, Waterloo 0
Wisconsin 6, Waterloo 5
The Woodchucks won 3-0 and 6-5 on Saturday night against the Waterloo Bucks. In game one, the Woodchucks were led by Patrick Terry who was 3-for-5 with one RBI. Game one winner was Anthony Drobnick who threw 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball. Game two was another Woodchucks win when they took the game 3-0 Saturday. Relief pitcher, Jayson McClaren (Nevada) threw the final 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Center fielder, Kevin Pillar (California Dominquez), was 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
