The Bucks won their seventh straight to pull within two games of first place Willmar, while Lakeshore and La Crosse both extended their streaks as they fight over first in the South.
Eau Claire 6, St. Cloud 4
The Express were trailing by one heading into the ninth before tying it and then walking off on a Daniel Salters (Dallas Baptist) two-run home run. Salters went 3-5 with two RBIs and a run in the 6-4 win over the Rox. Eau Claire pulled within a half game of the Rox in the North Division standings, who've now lost two in a row. Miles Nablo (Century Col) picked up the win in relief for Eau Claire while Kevin Burgee (Georgia St) blew his first save on the season for St. Cloud.
Lakeshore 5, Wisconsin 2
The Chinooks won their third straight game to take over sole posession of first place in the South Division with a 5-2 win over Wisconsin. The Woodchucks took the loss to fall a game back as a three-run second from Lakeshore was too much to overcome. All but two Chinooks picked up hits, led by Brett Siddall (Cansius) who went 3-4. Chinook starter Shaun Anderson (Florida) went seven innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five to pick up the win. Connor Jones (Georgia) picked up his first save after striking out five over two innings.
Tu\hunder Bay 7, Mankato 6
A four-run eighth completed the Border Cat comeback as they rallied to beat the MoonDogs, 7-6. Sal Taormina (Kean) came up clutch as a pinch-hitter as he hit a two-RBI single while teammate Adam Collins (Central Michigan) went 3-4 with a run and a RBI. Mankato second basemen and NWL Player of the Night Brett Synek (Evansville) went 3-3 with a home run and two runs but Thunder Bay held on. Ben Allison (Belhaven) picked up the win while Devin McLemore (Winston Salem St) picked up the save.
Waterloo 10, Duluth 0
The Bucks routed Duluth, 10-0, behind a dominant start from NWL Pitcher of the Night Adam Bray (South Dakota St). Bray went six shutout innings with five strikeouts to pick up the win. He was provided plenty of run support, led by Zach Soria, who went 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs, and Jon McAllister, who had a two-RBI double. TJ Peterson threw three innings and struck out four to get his second save of the season for the Bucks.
La Crosse 13, Kalamazoo 5
A big five run eighth gave the Loggers more then enough insurance as they pulled away for a 13-5 win over Kalamazoo to pull within a half game of first place. Aaron Knapp (Cal) hit a grand slam as a part of the five-run frame and teammate Adrian Chacon (North Carolina) added a 3-4 day with two runs and a double. La Crosse starter Ty Provencher (Long Beach St) went five innings and gave up just three earned runs to pick up the win.
Kenosha 4, Green Bay 3
After Green Bay tied it at three in the sixth, Kenosha tacked on the eventual game-winner in the seventh to hand the Bullfrogs their fourth straight loss, 4-3. Steven Sensley (LSU-Enice) drove in the game-winning run with a RBI single as part of a 2-4 day with two RBIs. Kingfish reliever Coley Thompkins (Campbell) picked up the win as he gave up just one hit over three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Saturday's Schedule
Madison at Willmar (3:05)
Madison at Willmar (5:05)
Green Bay at Kenosha (6:05)
Mankato at Thunder Bay (6:05)
Kalamazoo at La Crosse (6:05)
St. Cloud at Eau Claire (6:35)
Duluth at Waterloo (6:35)
Lakeshore at Wisconsin (7:05)
Wisconsin Rapids at Battle Creek (7:05)
Rochester at Alexandria (7:05)