Waterloo 12, Wisconsin 4
In the hottest game so far this season, the Waterloo Bucks (13-15) were on fire. The Waterloo Bucks won their second game in a row, 12-4, versus the Wisconsin Woodchucks (11-15) during a three-game home stand. Chase Stevens (Seminole St. CC), the Waterloo Bucks starting pitcher, was definitely bringing the heat. Stevens pitched 6.0 strong innings, striking out seven batters walking only three. Waterloo also turned up the heat with their batting. The Bucks racked up three home runs during the game. Thomas Lindauer (Illinois) and Joel Hutter (Dallas Baptist) both hit their first home run of the season. Cameron Perkins (Purdue) had a huge game, hitting the remaining home run in addition to two doubles and a single.
Duluth 4, Alexandria 1
The Duluth Huskies improved their winning streak as of late to five straight games after a beating the Alexandria Beetles 4-1 on Thursday night at Wade Stadium in Duluth. Seven players had multiple hits for the Huskies, who had 14 hits as a team for the game. Adam Humes (Northwood) went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a runscored, while Chris Manship (Kansas) went 2-for-4. Joey Novak (Harvard) earned his third win of the season, pitching 6.0 innings while allowing one run on five hits. Jason Whalen (Lynn) closed out the game for Duluth and picked up his Northwoods League leading sixth save of the season.
Brainerd 7, Rochester 1
In his final outing in a Lunker uniform this season, Aaron Conyers (Sacramento City College) went out with a bang, pitching 7.0 innings and only giving up one run in the Lunkers 7-1 victory over the Rochester Honkers Thursday night at Mills Field.
Conyers picked up his fourth win of the season on his 22nd birthday. Jeff McKenzie (Delta) takes the loss in his first start for the Honkers as he falls to (0-1). Lunker pitcher Tyler Harris (St. Edwards) came in to the game in the Top of the 9th and pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
With the win, the Lunkers have clinched a winning record for the first half as they move to (16-9), remaining one game behind Mankato in the North Division standings. The Honkers fall to (9-18).
Battle Creek 4, Eau Claire 1
The Bombers won the series against the visiting Eau Claire Express on Thursday night with a 4-1 victory, heading the Express their fourth straight loss and knocking off their perch from the top of the southern division. Battle Creek again struck early, bringing a pair across in the first inning on a Troy White (Northern Illinois) single and a Bryce Redeker (Miami-OH) groundout. Eau Claire scored their only run in the fifth when Josh Sheffert (Nebraska), who went 2-fo-3 against Battle Creek, stroked a single into the outfield. Matt Dearden (Indiana) had his second excellent start in a row, this time tossing one-run baseball through 5.0 innings and notching his fourth win.
La Crosse 10, Wisconsin Rapids 2
On one of the hottest days of the year so far, 2,573 made their way to Copeland Park to see the Loggers defeat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 10-2. The win made it four straight now for La Crosse, who seems to be hitting their stride. Erik Schoenrock (Memphis) picked up the win, going 5.0 innings, allowing just the two runs on six hits, with four walks and four strikeouts. Dan Child (Oregon State) entered the game in the top of the eighth when the lead was just 5-2 so Child earned the save after pitching a perfect eighth and ninth inning. Wisconsin Rapids starter, Brad Douthit (USC) suffered the loss.
Madison 3, Green Bay 2
The Madison Mallards defeated the Green Bay Bullfrogs 3-2 in front of 6,471 fans at the "Duck Pond." on Thursday night. The game was a great pitcher’s duel from the very beginning and ended up being one of the most exciting games for the Mallards this season. Nate Theunissen (Central Michigan) blasted a two-run home run that skied over the Great Dane Duck Blind in right field, giving the Mallards their first lead of the game at 3-2. Mallards’ starter Jerad Grundy (Heartland Community College) had his best outing of the season in his final appearance with the team. He pitched 5.0 innings, gave up only two hits and one unearned run in the process. Zach White (Wake Forest) got the win for Madison.
St. Cloud 6, Willmar 3
The St. Cloud River Bats scored early and often to upend the Willmar Stingers in a 6-3 win. Thursday night’s win snapped a three game losing streak for the Bats.
Zach Hirsch (Nebraska) pitched economically for the Bats. Hirsch worked 8.0 solid innings, surrendering three runs and striking out four. Bryan Peters closed out the game for his Nebraska teammate, Hirsch, as he earned his first save of the season.
The record for the Bats stands at 11-16. Willmar falls to 15-12. These two teams will meet in a rubber match to end the three game set in St. Cloud.
Mankato 9, Thunder Bay 5
The Border Cats opened a seven game home stand Thursday night with a 9-5 loss to the first place Mankato MoonDogs before 835 chilly fans at Subway Field at Port Arthur Stadium. The Cats were down 4-1, but struck for three runs in the 5th inning to tie the game and then took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the 6th on Ty Woselger’s (Fairfield) first home run of the season. However, the MoonDogs bounced back with three runs int he top of the 7th inning and added single insurance runs in the 8th and 9th innings to drop the Cats first half record to 10-18. Cullen Mahoney (South Mountain) upped his team leading batting average to .340, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a runs cored.
