Mankato 4, Duluth 3
The Mankato MoonDogs beat the Duluth Huskies on Saturday night by a score of 4-3. The game was called in the sixth inning due to a sudden rain downpour. The MoonDogs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff double by James Roberts. Roberts advanced to third on a passed ball, and then scored on a Brennan Moore single to centerfield. Roberts was 1-for-2 from the plate with a double and run scored on the night, while Moore was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Steven Rice was the winning pitcher in his relief duty on Saturday night, he now moves to 1-1 on the season. Ryan Ullmann suffered the loss for the Huskies and now falls to 0-2 on the season.
La Crosse 5, Battle Creek 4
The La Crosse Loggers defeated the Battle Creek Bombers, 5-4 in eleven innings on Saturday night. On a muggy, sticky night 2,747 fans made their way to Copeland Park, many sticking around until the end. Entering the bottom of the eleventh, the Loggers were all knotted up with the Bombers at 4-4. After Trentt Copeland popped out to third base, Corey LeVier would start the rally when he was hit on the inside elbow by a pitch by Bomber closer, Kristian Calibuso. Next, Andrew Knapp singled and moved the winning run to second base and only 180 feet from ending the game. An error by the Bomber second baseman would load the bases for Mike Reeves. Reeves struck out swinging and it looked like the game would be continuing to the twelfth and Calibuso only needed one more out to get out of the jam. Tyler Smith stepped up to the plate and drew a walk. The pitch was high and Smith threw his bat into the air in celebration as the Loggers defeated the Bombers 5-4 on a walk-off walk.
Madison 3, Eau Claire 2
The Madison Mallards defeated the Eau Claire Express 3-2 Saturday night in front of another sellout crowd of 6,750 at the "Duck Pond". The win was the second night in a row for the Mallards against Eau Claire, and the team is now 5-2 in seven games versus the Express this season. The game was a tight, defensive battle all night long as pitching was in the spotlight for both teams. Starting pitcher Nick Sutherland had his best performance of the season for the Mallards. Sutherland picked up his first win by throwing 102 pitches over seven innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits, walked one, and struck out five Express batters. Sutherland, usually making appearances out of the bullpen for Madison, made his third start of the season and lowered his ERA to 5.08. The Mallards are now 10-5 when he pitches. Express starter Tony Vocca was also effective in the game. He allowed three runs on seven in 6.2 innings. He had two walks, and like Sutherland, fanned five batters. Vocca falls to 1-3 despite his efforts.
Waterloo 9, Wisconsin 8
The Waterloo Bucks continued their winning streak, defeating the Wisconsin Woodchucks 9-8. After being in the lead for the majority of the game, five runs for the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the seventh inning and two in the ninth tied up the game. In the tenth inning Chris Migani delivered with his third home run in only six games so far with Waterloo. In tonight’s game Migani had three hits and two runs batted in off six hits. Bucks pitching had a wild night with six total pitchers entering the game. Shane Broyles was the Bucks starting pitcher and pitched through six innings with only three hits.
Rochester 7, Thunder Bay 5
The Rochester Honkers came into tonight’s game looking for redemption after last night’s loss to the Thunder Bay Border Cats. The Honkers got exactly what they wanted, winning by a score of 7-5 in a game that featured many lead changes Saturday night at Mayo Field. Johnny Coy continued to hit very well for the Honkers. Coy went 3-for-4 with one RBI on the day. Davy Wright also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the Honkers win. Aaron Siefken got the start on the mound for the Honkers picking up his second win of the season. Siefken pitched seven innings allowing five runs on six hits.
Wisconsin Rapids 5, Green Bay 0
Revenge is a dish best served with a shutout. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters turned the tables on the Green Bay Bullfrogs Saturday night, answering a prior nights shut out with a 5-0 shutout victory of their own. With just a single hit allowed over the first five frames, Paul Schwendel put a strangle hold on the Bullfrogs offense over six and one third innings. When a one out walk followed by a single forced the righty from the game in the seventh, Schwendel had allowed zero runs on four total hits, striking out a season high seven. Kevin Wild and Joie Dunyon combined over a hitless seventh, eighth and ninth to secure the Rafters second shut-out of the season.
Alexandria 15, Willmar 5
Pat Stover had the only multi-hit game for the Willmar Stingers, as Willmar was held to six hits in a 15-5 defeat to the Alexandria Beetles Saturday night at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar, Minn.
Alexandria scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, hitting three home runs in the contest and pounding a total of 17 hits. Every Beetle who started had at least one hit in the game, led by Rick Devereaux with a 4-for-6 performance that included a three-run homer and six RBIs total. Chad Bunting went 4-for-5 with his first home run of the year, five runs and four RBI. Stover was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs.
St. Cloud 5, Brainerd 0
Runs came at a premium Saturday night in St. Cloud. A three run outburst in the eighth helped the Bats sweep Brained by a 5-0 final. Urban shutout the Lunkers for seven innings. He struck out four batters and issued just one free pass. The future Creighton Jay evened his record at 3-3 with the win. Thanks to the win, the Bats improve to 9-7 on the second half. They meet first place Alexandria in the first game of a four game road trip. Austen Wisroth takes the mound for the Bats, as they look to gain ground on the Beetles.
