With a massive slate of games scheduled and back-and-forth doubleheaders across the league, tonights recap runs a little long. A total of 19 games were on the slate for Wednesday and we saw plenty of action. Lakeshore took on Kenosha twice, and entered with a 11-game winning streak- they were halted and swept by the Kingfish, who pulled within three games of the first place Chinooks. Battle Creek also swept Kalamazoo to run their win streak to five.
Battle Creek 7, Kalmazoo 6 (Game 1)
The first of two nine-inning games between these two got an early start, with the first pitch coming at 11:06 in the morning. Kalamazoo rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth to tie it, but a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the frame gave the Bombers a walkoff win. Laz Rivera (Miami) was hit by Kalamazoo righthander Josh Schreiber (Northwestern Ohio) with one out to score the game-winning run and hand Schreiber a loss. Hunter Jobe (Pfeiffer) inherited a bases loaded situation in the ninth but he worked out of it for his second win of the season. Andrew Mitchell (LSU) started for the Bombers, and went six one-run innings and didn't allow a hit while striking out seven.
Kenosha 7, Lakeshore 1 (Game 1)
The Chinooks streak was halted at 11, convincingly, at the hands of Kenosha. The Kingfish jumped out to a 4-0 lead and tacked on three more in the sixth and Rico Garcia (Hawaii Pacific) pitched into the sixth. The Chinooks, who had scored 18 runs in each of their last two games, were held to just one run on five hits. Garcia threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out three. He was backed by two-RBI days from both Buddy Reed (Florida) and CJ Saylor (San Diego St). It was a battle between the top two teams in the Southern Division, both who entered the second game of their doubleheader at 9-1 over their last ten games.
Alexandria 12, Willmar 6 (Game 1)
In a game that featured multiple lead changes, Alexandria used a three-run fifth and tacked on six more in the eighth for a 12-6 win. The Blue Anchors racked up 13 hits and were led by two-RBI performances from Cam Duzenack (Dallas Baptist) and Aaron Gretz (Ohio State). Every member of the Alexandria lineup recorded a hit except for the No. 9 hitter, who managed to score twice. Reliever Graylon Brown (Angelo St) picked up his second win in as many outings with a scoreless inning and a third.
Rochester 6, Waterloo 4 (Game 1)
Both teams combined for 21 hits in a back-and-forth affair, with a three-run fifth carrying Rochester to a 6-4 win. Nick Gruener (Harvard) gave up three runs, just two of which were earned, over five innings with six strikeouts for his fourth win of the season. It was his first victory since June 27th as he lowered his season ERA to 4.27. Four-year Honker Reid Roper (Illinois) drove in a pair of runs, and three other Rochester hitters added one apiece. Reliever Carl Jameson (Missouri Baptist) spotted the Bucks a run in the ninth, but he worked around the jam to escape with his fourth save.
Wisconsin Rapids 8, Eau Claire 7 (Game 1)
Wisconsin Rapids entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 7-3 and erupted for five runs for an improbable, come-from-behind walkoff victory. Pinch runner Andre Moore (Norfolk St) raced home on a passed ball to give the Rafters the win. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out, chasing Eau Claire reliever Cody Peterson (UW-Milwuakee). His replacement, Eric Gleese (Hawaii), quickly gave up a bases-clearing double to Clark Egan (Arkansas). Another run came across before Moore scored, handing Gleese the loss. Rafter reliever Nolan Blackwood (Memphis) turned in 1 1/3 shutout innings for his fourth win.
Madison 13, La Crosse 1 (Game 1)
The defending champions racked up 23 hits and held La Crosse to just four as Madison rolled to a easy and resounding 13-1 victory. Pete Alonso (Florida) slugged his 16th and 17th home runs on the season to take the season lead from Wisconsin's Paul Dejong. He finished 4-6 with four RBIs, one of two Mallards who drove in four runs- the other was teammate Austin Barr (Stanford), who also hit a home run. This offensive output was more then enough for the Mallards duo of Chris Oakley (North Carolina) and Devin Over (Connecticut). Over went five shutout innings for his first win after making 18 appearances out of the Madison pen. Oakley gave up one run over the next four innings for the save, despite a 12-run lead. The team total of 23 hits is second to 24 for the season high.
Green Bay 10, Wisconsin 1 (Game 1)
A pair of four-run innings and a dominant start from Luke Watson (UW-Stevens Point) gave Green Bay a convincing 10-1 rout of Wisconsin. Watson went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out a pair for his second win in just his sixth start of the summer. He was backed by more then enough run support from a Bullfrogs lineup that racked up 11 hits. Four of those came off the bat of rightfielder Brian Celsi (California), who went 4-5 with a double and a team-high four RBIs.
Battle Creek 8, Kalamazoo 4 (Game 2)
The Bombers picked up a doubleheader sweep of the Growlers to run their winning streak to five behind a six-run sixth. It put them up 8-1, and they fought off a late rally in the bottom of the ninth as they had more then enough of a cushion. Collin Orellana (San Diego St) went eight strong innings in just his second start for the Bombers this summer. He gave up just two earned runs on three hits and worked around four walks with a lone strikeout. He was supported by a solo home run from Laz Rivera (Miami), who bounced back from an 0-3 performance in the earlier game. Teammate Anthony Cheky (Michigan St) drove in two runs for the second straight night to raise his RBI total to four through his first four Battle Creek games.
Eau Claire 10, Wisconsin Rapids 3 (Game 2)
A closely contested game, tied 3-3 after seven, was broke wide open by a seven-run eighth as Eau Claire downed the Rafters for a doubleheader split. Brian Mundell's (Cal Poly) lone hit of the game was a clutch grand slam and four other batters drove in runs for the Express, who bounced back after falling in the bottom of the ninth in the early game. Eann Cox (Lewis) struck out six over five strong innings, giving up just two runs in his first start, a no-decisison after primarily serving as a reliever. Justin Jaquish (UW-Milwaukee) picked up a win with two shut out innings of relief.
Green Bay 5, Wisconsin 4 (Game 2)
Wisconsin rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth, but it was too little too late as they were swept by Green Bay, falling 5-4 in game two. The Woodchucks jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the fifth, but the Bullfrogs scratched across runs in each of the next four innings, including a two-run sixth. Green Bay starter Nathan Disch (Jacksonville) went 7 1/3 strong innings, allowing just one earned run (two total) on four hits while striking out four in just his fourth start of the season. He was boosted by a two-hit, two-RBI day from outfielder Paul Jacobsen (SDSU), who also doubled and scored a run.
Willmar 6, Alexandria 5 (Game 2)
The Stingers were on the verge of being swept by the second-to-last Blue Anchors, but they rallied and scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a walkoff win. A RBI groundout from Brian Pruett (FGCU) ended it, as Willmar erased a one-run deficit. TJ Whidby (UT Arlington) gave up two earned runs over 7 2/3 innings in his second longest start of the summer, both no-decsisions. He struck out six before giving way to Will Lydon (Pacific), who held Alexandria scoreless the rest of the way for the win. Frankie Rios (Southern California) drove in two runs for the Stingers.
Madison 8, La Crosse 4 (Game 2)
Both teams picked up 12 hits, but Madison didn't leave 10 runners on base as they picked up a doubleheader sweep of the Loggers. Austin Barr (Stanford) went off for the second game in a row, driving in five on a 3-4 night with two doubles and a home run to run his RBI total on the day to nine. Teammate Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) added a pair of RBIs for the Mallards, who outscored La Crosse 21-5 on the day. Starter Rob McDonnell (Illinois) held the Loggers to just one run over six innings with three strikeouts for his sixth win of the season.
Kenosha 3, Lakeshore 2 (Game 2)
Lakeshore's skid hit two after winning 11 straight as they fell to the second-place Kingfish for the second time. Kenosha jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and a two-run Chinooks fifth wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. The Kingfish pulled within three games of first as they picked up their 4th win in a row and are 9-1 over their last 10 games. Three different members of the Kenosha lineup drove in a run and they were carried to victory by a lights out effort from the bullpen. Justin Peters (Texas) got two outs for a win in relief, escaping the fifth before running into trouble in the sixth. He gave way to Paul Schuster (SIUE), who held the high-octane Lakeshore offense to just two hits over the next 3 2/3 innings for the save.
Mankato 7, St. Cloud 1
The only teams not playing a doubleheader saw Mankato roll to a 7-1 win as St. Cloud left 11 runners on base and couldn't get timely hits. The Rox trailed by just three, 4-1, entering the eighth but the MoonDogs scored three runs over the next two innings to pull away. Austin Warner (Bellarmine) gave up just one run over five innings for his third win in just his third start of the season after coming from the bullpen. He struck out four and was backed by a four-RBI day from teammate Tanner Rockwell (Arkansas Little Rock). Rockwell went 2-4 with a home run and scored twice, with his blast a two-run shot in the third.
Waterloo 6, Rochester 4 (Game 2)
The same score as the first meeting between these two teams, just reversed. Waterloo downed Rochester, 6-4, to take a doubleheader split with the Honkers. A two-run first put the Bucks up early and they kept ahead, battling several different Rochester rallies. Nick Veale (Des Moines Area CC) held the Honkers to three runs over five innings to improve to 3-1 on the season in his fifth start as he's split time between the bullpen and rotation. Colin Wedinger (St. Thomas) went the rest of the way, allowing just one run over four innings for the save. Bucks hitters Mikal Hill (Charlotte) and Blake Berger (FGCU) both went deep, with Berger's a two-run shot that was his first of the summer.
In Progress: Thunder Bay/Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids/Eau Claire.
Thursday's Schedule (all games at 7:05 unless otherwise noted):
Thunder Bay at Wisconsin Rapids (6:00)
Eau Claire at Alexandria (6:35)
Duluth at Mankato
Rochester at Willmar
Green Bay at Kalamazoo
La Crosse at Battle Creek
Lakeshore at Wisconsin
Kenosha at Madison
Waterloo at St. Cloud
Wisconsin Rapids at Thunder Bay