Eau Claire 5, Wisconsin 4
The Wisconsin Woodchucks fell down by five runs early to the Eau Claire Express and made a valiant attempt at a comeback, but fell short as they lost 5-4.The Woodchuck offense finally broke through in the sixth inning. Danny Susdorf (UC San Diego) led off the inning with a single, stole second base, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Seth Batty (UC Davis) grounded a ball to second base that allowed Susdorf to score, cutting the Express lead to 5-1. Mahlon Zimmerman (Minnesota State-Mankato) retired the Woodchucks in order in the ninth to close out the game, as the Express won the rubber game of the series, 5-4. The ‘Chucks fell to 8-11 on the second half, while the Express advanced to 6-13. This was the final game of the season between the two Northwoods League South Division teams, and the two clubs split the series, with each team winning five games.
Willmar 6, Brainerd 5
Blake Shepherd’s (Viterbo) two-run homer in the ninth inning tied the game, 5-5, and a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Gonzalez (Alcorn State) completed the last-inning comeback for the Stingers in a 6-5 victory over the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers at Stewart C. Mills Field Wednesday night in Brainerd. Gonzalez had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a run and the game-winning RBI. Shepherd was 1-for-3, but his only hit tied the game in the ninth on his team-leading seventh homer of the season. Ricky Knapp (Florida Gulf Coast) earned the victory to improve to 5-1 after pitching the eighth and ninth innings out of the bullpen.
Rochester 4, Mankato 3
The Honkers needed a win against the Mankato MoonDogs to stay within three games of the Alexandria Beetles today. The Honkers did just that, winning 4-3 and salvaging the series after Mankato won games one and two. The Honkers are now 10-8 in the second half, eclipsing their win total from the first half where they went 9-23. Kevin Johnson (Illinois) got the nod on the mound in the game for the Honkers, making his seventh start of the season. Johnson lasted 5.2 innings before leaving the game to the bullpen, allowing three runs on seven hits and tied his season high with five strikeouts. Austin House ( New Mexico) would come into the game and close the door on the MoonDogs, getting his seventh save of the season. Bryan Karraker (New Mexico State) would lead the team in batting in the game, going 2-for-4 and driving in one run on the game.
St. Cloud 8, Duluth 2
The three-game series between the Duluth Huskies and the St. Cloud River Bats wrapped up Wednesday night at Wade Stadium with the River Bats taking the series two games to one with a 8-2 victory over the Huskies. The Bats jumped out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the first, and never looked back, tacking on two runs in the fifth and seventh, while the Huskies could only manage two runs in the bottom of the third. At the plate the Huskies’ Travis Enger (St. Cloud State) went 2-for-4, and Adam Humes (Northwood) had one hit in three at bats, with two runs batted in. Jimmy O’Neill (Stetson) made the start on the mound, and was roughed up in five innings pitched, allowing five earned runs.
Madison 4, Battle Creek 1
The Madison Mallards defeated the Battle Creek Bombers 4-1 Wednesday night in front of 5,951 fans at the "Duck Pond." The game had a little bit of everything, from timely offense to good pitching as the Mallards finish their five-game homestand with a 3-2 record. Jonathon Crawford (Florida) pitched five innings to pick up win number two on the season. He allowed an unearned run on three hits, walked three, and struck out five to get his first win since July 1. Denny Clement (Texas A&M), Matt Milroy (Illinois), and Tony Bryant (Oregon State) all came on in relief for Crawford after the right-handed pitcher exited in the fifth. Clement and Milroy each picked up holds and Bryant pitched a perfect ninth to notch his fourth save of the season. The loss went to Battle Creek starter Troy Forton (Western Michigan).
Wisconsin Rapids 2, La Crosse 1
Four relievers from the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters bullpen put a strangle-hold on the La Crosse Loggers offense over the last six innings, securing a tight 2-1 victory for the Rafters, their first win against La Crosse this season. In all the Rafters bullpen retired the final 16 batters in a row to end the game. The Rafters are now 1-7 against the Loggers this season and sit three and one half games out of first place after play Wednesday night. The Rafters face the two first place teams, Waterloo and La Crosse, a combined seven more times this season.
Waterloo 4, Green Bay 3
The Waterloo Bucks wanted to avoid a three game sweep against the Green Bay Bullfrogs on Wednesday night at Joannes Stadium. Fireworks began in the second inning when Jeff Popick (Mesa State) hit a solo shot to begin the inning. Both the Bucks and ‘Frogs would exchange home runs in the fifth and sixth. Chase Stevens (Seminole State CC) also only lasted two innings for Waterloo and Chris Dunn (Viterbo) pitched four innings for the win.
Alexandria 10, Thunder Bay 3
