Two double headers highlighted the 11 game slate in the Northwoods League on Friday night. Duluth swept their doubleheader with Alexandria whiule St. Cloud and Thunder Bay split the two games. The fans in Kenosha saw and incredible pitching performance and the over 6,000 fans at the Duck Pond in Madison saw a post season hero continue to knock balls out of the ballpark.

Duluth 10, Alexandria 4  –  Game One 7 innings

After giving up a run in the top of the first the Huskies answered back with 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Four of those runs came off the bat of Huskies left fielder Vinnie Rodriguez (Montevallo) as he launched a 1-0 pitch for a grand slam. The Huskies put up another run in the second and four more in the fifth to coast to the win. Duluth left hander Kevin Peters (West Florida) went 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs for the win.

St. Cloud 4, Thunder Bay 1  –  Game One 7 innings

St. Cloud and Thunder Bay played another tight game tonight but the two runs scored by St. Cloud ended up being the difference in this 4-1 win for the Rox. St. Cloud starter Nick McCarty (Notre Dame) held the Border Cats to one run in 6.1 innings en route to his second win of the season. Thunder Bay had nine hits on the night as four different batters had multiple hit nights but they could only get one run on the board. Thunder Bay catcher Nick Studer (Doane College) drove in that lone run while going 2 for 3.

Kalamazoo 9, Rochester 5

After a scoreless first inning the bats came out in the second. Rochester started the scoring in the top of the inning by scoring one run on three hits. But it was the bottom of the inning that saw fireworks as the Growlers exploded for five runs on six hits. Rochester answered back with two in the third and two in the fifth but the Growlers also continued hitting and scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth and another one in the sixth to pull away for the 9-5 win. Kalamazoo was led by center fielder Troy Montgomery (Ohio State) who went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Rochester was paced by designated hitter Jeff Campbell going 4 for 4 with 2 RBI. 

Willmar 5, Eau Claire 3

Willmar starting pitcher Austin Klein (Lindenwood) and Eau Claire starter Jordan Ruckman (Northern Illinois) both pitched well tonight as Klein kept Eau Claire off the board until the sixth inning when he gave up three runs after Willmar scored three runs off of Ruckman in the third. Willmar added two in the top of the seventh off of Express righty Conner Rusch. Willmar first baseman Nick Rivera (FGCU) led the way for the Stingers going 2 for 4 with three RBI.

Thunder Bay 2, St. Cloud 0  –  Game Two 7 innings

The Border Cats earned revenge on the Rox in the second game of their double header Friday night by a score of 2-0. St. Cloud righty Reese Gregory (St. Cloud State) went the distance in the loss and gave up two unearned runs on three hits while striking out five. Thunder Bay righty Gunnar Kay (Dallas Baptist) allowed only 3 hits during his 4.1 innings as the starter. The Thunder Bay bullpen then took over and shut down the Rox over the next 2.2 innings.  

Duluth 7, Alexandria 4    –   Game Two 7 innings

Duluth earns a sweep of the double header tonight with a 7-4 win over the Blue Anchors in the night cap. Duluth scored two in the bottom of the first, one in the fourth and four in the fifth as they ran past the Blue Anchors. Duluth catcher Nolan Johnson (Mankato State) went 2 for 3 and drove in one run on the night.

Mankato 4, Waterloo 2

The MoonDogs won after losing to the Bucks the night befor as they doubled up the Bucks 4-2. Cord Cockrell started for the MoonDogs and went 6.2 innings allowing only two runs. Mankato center fielder Tyler Sullivan went 3 for 4 on the night and Waterloo right fielder Jon McAllister matched him going 3 for 4 as well.

Madison 4, Wisconsin Rapids 2

Playing in front of 6,042 fans at the Duck Pond the Mallards made the hometown fans go home happy as they defeated the visiting Rafters 4-2. Last year's post season hero Alex Bacon (North Florida) drove in two runs while homering in the fifth inning. Rapids righty Jon Kravetz (Illinois) pitched well but not well enough as he got the loss allowing two runs over 6.0 innings pitched.

Wisconsin 5, Green Bay 3

Five different Woodchuck hitters tallied an RBI on the night as the Woodchucks won their seventh straight game, defeating the Green Bay Bullfrogs, 5-3, Friday night at Joannes Stadium. C.J. Chatham (Florida Atlantic) had the big night for the Woodchucks as he went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. The Woodchucks bullpen also combined for 6,0 innings of shut out ball.

La Crosse 6, Battle Creek 1

The Loggers coasted to an easy win while allowing only one run in the top of the sixth inning for a 6-1 win. La Crosse starter Ty Provencher (Long Beach State) was masterful as he allowed one hit and struck out four in 5.0 innings pitched. Loggers second baseman Ryne Birk (Texas A & M) went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI on the night.

Kenosha 3, Lakeshore 0

Kenosha starter Rico Garcia (Hawaii Pacific) was named the NWL Pitcher of the night tonight and deservedly so as he improved to 2-0 on the season with a miniscule 0.35 ERA. Garcia went 7.0 innings allowing only 2 hits while striking out 10. Kenosha was also led at the plate by Freshman DH Steven Sensley (LSU-Eunice) going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Lakeshore only had one batter with multiple hits as Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois) went 2 for 4. 

Saturday Schedule:

Eau Claire @ Willmar (6:05)

Wisconsin @ Madison (6:05)

Thunder Bay @ Mankato (6:05)

Battle Creek @ Wisconsin Rapids (6:05)

Kenosha @ St. Cloud (6:05)

La Crosse @ Lakeshore (6:35)

Duluth @ Waterloo (7:05)

Green Bay @ Kalamazoo (7:05)

Alexandria @ Rochester (7:05)