Mankato 4, Alexandria 2
Shaun Cooper (Utah) hit his Northwoods League leading 18th home run of the season as Mankato snapped Alexandria’s 7-game winning-streak with a 4-2 home victory on Sunday night. Mike Rivera (Fresno Pacific) also homered with a two-run shot in Mankato’s three-run 3rd inning. Jordan Remer (San Francisco) improved to 4-3 on the season by striking out eight and allowing just one run on two hits over five innings. Patrick Goelz (Bethune-Cookman) notched his 8th save with a scoreless 9th. Mike Theofanopolous (California) was the only Beetle with two hits. Cooper’s 18th home run came leading off the first inning and passes long-time Major Leaguer Jay Gibbons (Manitowoc ’97) for second most in a Northwoods League season and leaves him one away for the league-record of 19. The two teams wrap up their regular season series Monday with Mankato having won five of the nine games between the teams this season.
Duluth 3, Thunder Bay 1
Dane Gronewald (Jefferson County CC) was dominant for eight innings and Brian Hansen (St. Cloud State) drove in all three runs for Duluth in their 3-1 home victory over Thunder Bay. Gronewald improved his record to 2-2 by allowing only one run on three hits and a walk while striking out ten Border Cats. Dylan Vogt (Nebraska) earned his first save with a scoreless 9th. Hansen was 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the 3rd inning and a two-run double in the 5th. Evan Weibel (Nicholls State) had two hits and the only RBI in the game for the Border Cats. With the loss, Thunder Bay is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Madison 4, Battle Creek 1
Madison hit three home runs and Tom Windle (Minnesota) limited the Battle Creek offense to just one run over 7 2/3 innings as the Mallards picked up a critical victory on Sunday night. Windle struck out six and allowed five hits and three walks to improve his record to 2-3. Mike McQuillan (Iowa), Jordan Owen (Tennessee-Martin), and Andrew Wasmund (Madison College) all hit solo home runs. Daniel Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) drove in the Bombers only run with an RBI double in the 6th inning. With one week to play, Madison stands three games behind La Crosse and Green Bay in the South Division second half standings.
