Monday night's action saw the Waterloo Bucks tie their franchise record for best start in a season, while the Lakeshore Chinooks finally took down the Mallards behind Gavin Downs's Pitcher of the Night performance. The Woodchucks league-leading offense continued to spark up the scoreboard as they took care of the Loggers, and Mankato held off a late Willmar rally to win their second consecutive game.
Lakeshore 1, Madison 0
The Monday matinee between Lakeshore and Madison resulted in an exciting pitching duel and ultimately ended the Mallards’ five-game win streak. Chinooks starter Gavin Downs (Purdue) completely stifled the Madison lineup, which came into the game leading the South Division in offense. Downs threw a complete game shutout, going the full nine innings, giving up just five hits, no walks, no runs and struck out five as he earned his first win. Lakeshore scored a run in the 4th inning led by Shortstop Greg Deichmann’s (LSU) RBI single, which provided the only offense in the ballgame. A mallard 2nd Baseman J.J. Gould (Jacksonville) seemingly was the only Madison hitter to have success today as he went 2-for-4, as the Mallards’ 5-1 record still remains the best in the South Division.
Duluth 4, Thunder Bay 3
The Huskies moved to 3-3 on the season as they edged out a close victory against the Border Cats, scoring runs in the 6th and 7th innings. Duluth Right Fielder Jean Figueroa (West Florida) recorded only one hit on the night, however it was a big one as he slammed his first home run of the year in the 4th inning. Huskies 1st Baseman Alex Wojciechowski (Minnesota-Duluth) continued his impressive start to the season as he had two more hits, increasing his average to .435. Reliever Ryan Agnitsch (SIU-Edwardsville) threw three innings of relief, only surrendering a hit and struck out two as he notched his first win. Border Cats Right Fielder Joe Gellenbeck (Xavier) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, as Thunder Bay will look to rebound from a current four-game losing streak.
Rochester 5, Battle Creek 1
The Honkers won their second consecutive game as they continue their Michigan tour, defeating the Bombers at C.O. Brown Stadium. Rochester was led by Sam Hall (Dixie State), Alex Shultz (Nebraska-Omaha), and Zak Hoffman (St. Cloud State) who combined for seven of the Honkers’ nine hits. Toeing the rubber for the first time this season for Rochester was Greg Jakuski (Stevens Institute) who was impressive going 5 2/3 innings, only allowing a run on three hits, striking out six as he picked up his first victory. Bombers Left Fielder Tyler Walsh (Belmont) supplied the only form of offense for Battle Creek as he hit a solo home run in the 4th inning as Battle Creek fell to 4-3 in the South Division.
Eau Claire 9, Alexandria 5
A pair of North opponents took the field in Alexandria Monday night as both teams are fighting their way out of an early divisional hole. A pair of Eau Claire outfielders paced the offense as Right Fielder Tyler Adkison (San Diego State) and Center Fielder Brady Burzynski (UW-Stout) registered their first home runs of the season, while Adkison’s 4 RBI performance earned him Player of the Night. Express reliever Miles Nablo (St. Cloud State) entered the 6th inning and was flawless allowing no runs on four hits, going the rest of the way for Eau Claire, collecting his first victory. Blue Anchors outfielder Mitch Held (Winona State) was the bright spot in the lineup going 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs as Alexandria fell to 1-4.
Kenosha 10, Kalamazoo 1
Two second-year Northwoods League teams faced off in Kalamazoo tonight and the Kingfish cruised to an easy victory disposing of the Growlers. Kenosha scored ten runs on only eight hits as the Growlers pitching staff walked eleven batters in the contest. Kingfish 1st Baseman Alex Borglin (Central Michigan) was solid tonight as he walked three times and knocked in 2 RBIs while Designated Hitter Zach Ratcliff (Ohio State) went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kenosha starter Josh Serio (UW-Parkside) completely dominated the Growlers lineup going six innings, giving up no earned runs on three hits and struck out nine. Kalamazoo Catcher Max Schuman (Utah) was the only sign of offense for the Growlers with two hits, as they fall to the bottom of the South Division at 1-6.
Wisconsin Rapids 3, Green Bay 1
The Rafters scored two runs in the 5th and one in the 6th as they edged out a narrow road victory, advancing to 3-3. Wisconsin Rapids was led by Zack Domingues (Long Beach State), Jake Sandlin (Georgia College), and Mitch McGeein (Eastern Michigan) as they combined for six of the Rafters’ nine hits. Pitcher James Davitt (Bryant) threw a surprising seven innings in relief as he came in the 3rd inning and went the distance, giving up only three hits with no runs, and struck out nine. Bullfrogs Designated Hitter Jack Strunc (Washington State) led the charge for Green Bay as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored as they dropped to 2-4 on the year.
Wisconsin 9, La Crosse 2
Wisconsin moved their win streak to three games in a row as they beat up on the Loggers at Copeland Park. Chucks Right Fielder Max Ponzurick (Virginia Tech) continues to dominate the league early on as he went 2-for-5 and hit his league-leading third bomb of the year. Designated Hitter Ian Yetsko (Oakland) picked a good time for his first hit of the season, hitting a three-run triple in the 6th inning, putting the game out of reach. Reliever Kevin Bolder (St. Cloud State) won his first game of the year moving to 1-1 on the season going two innings, giving up no hits and no runs. Loggers Center Fielder Alex Merritt (North Florida) registered two hits and scored a run in a losing effort for La Crosse.
Mankato 5, Willmar 3
The Moondogs won their second straight game, holding off a late Willmar push to keep their momentum going. Moondogs 2nd Baseman Craig Nenning (Ohio State) and Catcher Kaden Moore (Indiana State) both tallied two hits apiece as they carried the offensive effort. Starter Austin Warner (Bellarmine) was dominant again in a victory, as he went five innings, allowing a run on two hits, and bumped his league-high strikeout total to 18. Stingers Center Fielder Dan Motl (Minnesota) knocked in two doubles tonight and came across home plate to score a run as Willmar dropped to 2-3 on the year.
Waterloo 6, St. Cloud 3
The North-leading and undefeated Bucks continued to rip through the first opponents of the 2015 season as they scored three runs in the 1st and 4th innings, and held off the Rox. Center Fielder Luke Stratman (Lamar C.C.) registered two hits and two RBIs. Waterloo starter Eric Veglahn (St. Thomas) only needed five innings of work as he surrendered just two earned runs and struck out two, as he picked up his first win, while closer Nathan Spielvogel (Marrimack) shut the door in the 9th for the save. Rox Catcher Austin Athmann (Minnesota) added two hits to his campaign, as St. Cloud was able to put together eleven hits, but also left eleven men on base, as they dropped to 4-2 for the season.
Tuesday’s Schedule
Rochester @ Battle Creek (10:05 AM)
Kenosha @ Kalamazoo (11:05 AM)
Thunder Bay @ Duluth (11:35 AM)
Madison @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
Green Bay @ Wisconsin Rapids (6:35 PM)
Eau Claire @ Alexandria (7:05 PM)
St. Cloud @ Waterloo (7:05 PM)
Mankato @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin @ La Crosse (7:05 PM)
