Several games underwent rain delays, but for the first time since Thursday, all nine games completed a full nine innings. Thankfully the weather cooperated for the most part because the Northwoods League was treated to some exciting finishes on Sunday. Three games were won in the final inning, and the Battle Creek Bombers and Green Bay Bullfrogs each won in walk-off fashion. The Madison Mallards scored two in the ninth for the victory as well to remain one of two unbeaten teams along with the Mankato MoonDogs.
Rochester 9, La Crosse 3
The La Crosse Loggers scored two runs in the top of the first for an early lead, but the Rochester Honkers scored nine consecutive runs to defeat the Loggers 9-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Honkers swept the home-and-away series to improve to 2-3, while La Crosse dropped to 2-4 on the season. Clayton McGinness (Wichita State) earned the win for Rochester with two runs allowed on six hits and a walk and struck out six batters. Honker first baseman Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge) blasted a three-run home run in the fifth, and right fielder Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) connected on a two-run shot in the sixth in the Rochester victory.
St. Cloud 7, Thunder Bay 5
Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) had a big day for the St. Cloud Rox at the plate and also pitched a solid performance on the mound. The junior from Deer Park, Texas finished with four hits on Sunday with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs on a two-run home run in the second for his third homer of the season. As a designated hitter in the lineup, Ramirez came out to the mound in the top of the ninth and threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts for the save. Thunder Bay tied the game at 5 with two runs in the seventh, but St. Cloud shortstop Denis Karas (Cal Berkeley) doubled home two runs in the bottom of the inning to give the Rox a 7-5 advantage.
Battle Creek 5, Kalamazoo 4
The Battle Creek Bombers won on a walk-off sacrifice fly to complete impressive come-from-behind victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers on Sunday. Battle Creek scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning to get on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to 4-1. To begin the bottom of the ninth, Bomber batters singled and struck out, followed by four conecutive walks to make it a 4-3 game. Nick Walker (Austin Peay) reached on an error to tie the game. Daniel Jipping (Central Michigan) flew out to shallow left field, but Jarrod Watkins (Central Michigan) tagged up and beat the throw home for the walk-off victory.
Mankato 6, Duluth 1
The Mankato MoonDogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the second inning and held on to defeat the Duluth Huskies to improve to 5-0 on the season. With the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning, Mankato second baseman Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) cleared the bases with a double to plate three runs for the MoonDogs. Nate Jones (Northwestern State) earned the victory for Mankato with five scoreless innings, as he allowed three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts. First baseman Bryce Adams (LSU) recorded a three-hit night for the MoonDogs.
Wisconsin 4, Rockford 2
The Wisconsin Woodchucks broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and defeated the Rockford Rivets 4-2 on Sunday. Woodchuck center fielder Mac Caples (Virginia Tech) tied the game at 2 with his first home run of the season. Wisconsin right fielder Josh Goulet (Plymouth State University) had the game-winning hit with a one-out, two RBI single in the sixth, which proved to be the difference. Woodchucks' catcher Jonathan Foster (Auburn University) finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored as Wisconsin improved its record to 3-2, while the Rivets dropped to 1-5 in their inaugural season.
Green Bay 3, Lakeshore 2
The Green Bay Bullfrogs secured a walk-off victory on Sunday to defeat the Lakeshore Chinooks 3-2 in 10 innings. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Lakeshore reliever Austin Jones (UW-Whitewater) walked Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir Rhyne University), and Brad Hamilton (Kent State University) scored to give the Bullfrogs the victory. Both teams currently sit at .500 with a 3-3 record so far this season.
Waterloo 7, Kenosha 3
After a scoreless first three innings, the Waterloo Bucks scored four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to jump out to a 6-0 lead over the Kenosha Kingfish and never looked back. Waterloo shortstop Tyler Curtis (Lynn University) recorded three hits with two runs scored and a RBI. Jared Crescentini (Missouri Baptist) threw another great game for the Bucks in his second start. He allowed just one run on six hits and a walk over seven innings with two strikeouts. Both teams have begun the season with a 4-2 record.
Madison 7, Wisconsin Rapids 6
The Madison Mallards were in serious jeopardy of losing their first game of the season on Sunday against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, but a late rally kept them undefeated. Madison trailed 6-3 after five innings but scored a run in the sixth and eighth and added two in the ninth. With one out in the top of the ninth, Matt Vierling (Notre Dame) singled in a run to tie the game, and Lucas Halstead (Pacific) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Matt McCann (Fairleigh Dickinson) and put the Mallards ahead 7-6. Luke Schilling (Illinois) came in and threw a scoreless bottom of the inning to preserve the victory for Madison.
Eau Claire 12, Willmar 5
Eau Claire Express pitcher Caleb Boushley (UW-La Crosse) shut down Willmar Stingers in order through the first five innings and earned a victory in his Northwoods League debut. In seven innings of work, Boushley allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts. Eau Claire right fielder Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) hit 3-for-3 with two walks, four runs scored and three RBIs. Varsho connected on a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and now has a league-leading five home runs in six games.
Monday's Schedule
Wisconsin Rapids @ Madison (6:35 PM)
Lakeshore @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
St. Cloud @ Duluth (6:35 PM)
Waterloo @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Eau Claire @ La Crosse (7:05 PM)
Kenosha @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
Willmar @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM)
