Over 6,000 people made their way to Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo to watch the Chinooks and Growlers battle on Independence Day, with Lakeshore coming out on top 7-4. Madison added a double-header sweep of Battle Creek to win their fourth straight while Mankato and Kenosha both won their third straight.
Lakeshore 7, Kalamazoo 4
Despite playing in front of one of the largest crowds in summer collegiate baseball league history (6,064), Kalamazoo couldn't pull out a win against Lakeshore, falling 7-4. The Chinooks bounced back from an early 4-0 deficit and scored multiple runs in two innings and capitalized on the Growlers 12 runners left on base. Connor McKay (Kansas) hit a two-run home run for Lakeshore, who've now won two in a row. Teammate Blake Butler (Charleston Col) added two RBIs with a pair of doubles as well.
Madison 5, Battle Creek 3 (Game 1)
Madison took the first game of the double-header against Battle Creek, picking up a 5-3 victory. Catcher Austin Barr (Stanford) picked up his second consecutive two-RBI game while teammate Robbie Tenerowicz (California) added three hits for a Mallards team that has heated up offensively as of late. Troy Black (Central Michigan) picked up his league-leading 11th save. Joseph Havrilak (Akron) added a solo home run for the Bombers.
Madison 7, Battle Creek 1 (Game 2, 7 innings)
A 7-1 victory by Madison gave the Mallards a double-header sweep of Battle Creek and their sixth win in a row. Madison remains perfect to start the second half of the season at 4-0 as they used a five-run fourth to pick up the easy win. Tenerowicz carried over his success from the first game as he drove in two runs, while teammate Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) added a pair of RBIs as well. Starter Rob McDonnell (Illinois) picked up his fourth win as he allowed just one run on two hits while striking out four over five innings.
Kenosha 4, Wisconsin Rapids 3
Kenosha became one of just three teams that remained undefeated in the second half of the season, as the Kingfish picked up a 4-3 vin over Wisconsin Rapids. Pat Porter (Ohio State) drove in the decisive run to hand the Rafters a third straight loss as he grounded out in the seventh to score the go-ahead and eventual game-winner. Porter's teammate Buddy Reed (Florida) added a pair of RBIs for Kenosha, who's win streak ties for second in the league right now. Reliever Coley Thompkins (Campbell) picked up a save, his first on the season.
Green Bay 3, St. Cloud 2
An early 3-0 lead was too much for St. Cloud to overcome as the Rox took a third straight loss at the hands of Green Bay, 3-2. The Bullfrogs, winners of two straight, used RBIs from three different hitters and a trio of hits from Ryan Koaziol (Gulf Coast St Col) to pick up the victory. Ivan Vieitez (Lenoir-Rhyne) drove in a run and then picked up save in a relief for Green Bay, while starter Roberto Baroniel (Nova Southeastern) picked up his third straight win with six innings of one-run ball.
Duluth 2, Alexandria 1
Back-to-back one run innings in the seventh and the eighth from Duluth carried the Huskies to the win, a 2-1 victory over Alexandria. Dominic Miroglio (UCLA) hit a game-tying home run and teammate Alex Michaels (Cal Poly) hit one of two doubles in the eighth to put Duluth ahead for good. Michaels has been hot as of late, driving in seven runs over his last three games. Starter Alex Winkelman (Southeast Missouri St) pitched into the seventh for the second straight start for Duluth, as he allowed just one run on three hits in a no-decision.
Mankato 6, Eau Claire 5
A pair of three run innings was enough offense for Mankato, as they fought off an Eau Claire rally to pick up a 6-5 victory. The MoonDogs have now won three in a row and sit atop the Northern Division with a perfect 3-0 record to start the second half of the season. Eric Schenck-Joblinske (Kirkwood CC) hit a three-run home run in the third to back Taylor Elman (Craighton), who went six innings and picked up a win despite giving up five runs on eight hits. Peter Van Gansen (Cal Poly) added a two hit, two-RBI performance in the loss.
Waterloo 4, Rochester 3 (Game 1, 8 innings)
Connor McClain (Indiana State) walked to lead off the bottom of the eight and moved around the bases before scoring on a passed ball to give Waterloo a 4-3 walkoff win in the first of two against Rochester. McClain scored twice on the day for the Bucks, who overcame a three-run sixth from the Honkers. Three different Bucks picked up RBIs and the bullpen combined for three shutout innings with Greg Kuhlman (Indiana State) picking up his third win on the season.
Willmar 5, Thunder Bay 4 (11 innings)
Thunder Bay tied it in the bottom of the seventh inning to push it to extras, but Willmar tacked on the go-ahead and game-winning run in the top of the 11th to down the Border Cats, 5-4. In a game that took almost three and a half hours, just three of the Stingers runs were earned- one coming off of a solo home run from Hutton Moyer (Pepperdine). Reliever Matt Geislinger (MSU-Mankato) threw three shutout innings and gave up just one hit in relief to pick up the win.
La Crosse 8, Wisconsin 2
After swapping runs in the first inning, La Crosse pulled away for a 8-2 win over Wisconsin. The Loggers scored seven unanswered runs to pull away as they capitalized on nine walks from Woodchucks pitchers. Ryne Brik (Texas A&M) and Nick Kanavas (Arizona) both drove in two runs apiece, while teammate Luke Perico (UCLA) added a solo home run.
Rochester 5, Waterloo 3
A four-run fifth helped Rochester bounce back and pick up a double-header split with a 5-3 victory over Waterloo late Friday night. In a game that ended at 11:47, Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) and John Schuknect (Cal Poly) both drove in a pair of runs to boost the Honkers to the win.
Saturday's Schedule
Battle Creek at Madison (4:35)
Willmar at Thunder Bay (6:05)
St. Cloud at Green Bay (6:05)
Kenosha at Wisconsin Rapids (6:05)
Alexandria at Duluth (6:35)
Mankato at Eau Claire (6:35)
Waterloo at Rochester (7:05)
Lakeshore at Kalamazoo (7:05)
La Crosse at Wisconsin (7:05)
