Monday night's action of the Northwoods League featured some big offensive performances, including a 22-hit night from the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The Rafters gave the Madison Mallards their first loss of the season, and the Mankato MoonDogs lost for the first time as well against the Willmar Stingers. The Kalamazoo Growlers walked off in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the defending champion Kenosha Kingfish, and the Rockford Rivets won in the bottom of the 13th over the Lakeshore Chinooks.
Wisconsin Rapids 13, Madison 5
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters swung hot bats on Monday night, as they handed the Madison Mallards their first loss of the season with a 13-5 win. The Rafters recorded a whopping 22 hits and scored six runs in the top of the first inning to jump ahead early. Eight batters in the Wisconsin Rapids lineup had multiple hits. Brandon Polizzi (Cal State – Dominguez Hills), Jake Lumley (Canisius), Patrick Cromwell (Santa Ana College), Logan Mattix (Georgia College) and Ben Fisher (Eastern Kentucky) all finished with three hits for the Rafters, who improved to 3-3.
Wisconsin 14, Thunder Bay 1
The Wisconsin Woodchucks exploded for nine runs in the third inning and defeated the winless Thunder Bay Border Cats 14-1 on Monday. The Woodchucks sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and recorded six hits. The third-inning rally was capped off by a three-run shot off the bat of Connor Heady (University of Kentucky), who had a big night for Wisconsin. He hit 3-for-4 with two walks, three runs scored and knocked in four runs and was named the Northwoods League Position Player of the Night. Scott Parker (University of San Francisco) tossed seven innings and allowed one run on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts for the victory.
Rockford 4, Lakeshore 3
The Rockford Rivets came back from two runs down and finished with a walk-off victory over the Lakeshore Chinooks. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Cade Bunnell (Kansas State) stepped up to the plate and singled home a pair of runs to tie the game at 3, and the score remained the same until the botttom of the 13th. With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning and Braden Williams (Texas Tech) at the plate, Corey Wright (Kansas State) scored from third on a wild pitch to win the game. Wright also picked up the win with three scoreless innings on the mound.
St. Cloud 3, Duluth 0
The St. Cloud Rox received a solid pitching performance from their starter Austin Caspersen (St. Cloud State) in a 3-0 shutout over the Duluth Huskies. The righthander from Boelus, Nebraska threw seven scoreless innings and allowed six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in his second start of the season. He was named the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night for his performance. Andrew Burnick (University of Pennsylvania) threw the final two innings and recorded a strikeout for the save. St. Cloud first baseman Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead, and the Rox scored two more in the eighth with RBIs from Mason Mamarella (Kent State University) and Chris Kwitzer (University of Buffalo).
Battle Creek 3, Green Bay 1
The Battle Creek Bombers won Game 1 of the two-game series between the Green Bay Bullfrogs on Monday night in a low-scoring contest. Battle Creek starter Jordan Horak (Portland) allowed just one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts, while Bullfrogs' pitcher Mike Ellenbest (Saginaw Valley State) threw five innings as well with two runs allowed but none were earned. Ellenbest gave up four hits and allowed two walks with four strikeouts. The Bullfrogs cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth, but a wild pitch in the seventh gave Battle Creek a two-run advantage.
Willmar 6, Mankato 4
After beginning the seaon 5-0, the Mankato MoonDogs lost their first game of the season on Monday night against the Willmar Stingers. Willmar starter Corey Binger (Nebraska Omaha) threw 7 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts on the night for the win. Jake Rothwell (Daytona State) threw a scoreless 1 1/3 innings for the save. For Mankato, Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) hit 3-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in. Gabe Constantine (Wichita St.) picked up the loss for the MoonDogs.
La Crosse 8, Eau Claire 1
The La Crosse Loggers scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to open up the scoring, as they defeated the Eau Claire Express 8-1 on Monday night at home. La Crosse shortstop Mason McCoy (Iowa) hit a pair of triples in the victory, and leftfielder Kevin Collard (San Diego) hit 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to increase the Loggers' lead to 8-0. Nelson Martz (Lewis Clark) threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed six hits and a walk with two strikeouts for the win.
Kalamazoo 5, Kenosha 4
The Kalamazoo Growlers defeated the Kenosha Kingfish in walk-off fashion on Monday night . Kenosha tied the game at 4 in the top of the eighth inning with a two-run home run from Pete Schuler (Kent State) to score Kian OBrien (Madison College). With two outs and a runner on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Kalamazoo's Dan Robinson (Central Michigan) singled to score Connor Kapach (Southern Illinois), who doubled. Tate Browley (Kellogg CC) picked up a no decision for Kalamazoo, but he pitched seven innings and allowed one earned run on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Waterloo 13, Rochester 1
The Waterloo Bucks scored at least one run in six innings on Monday night, as they destroyed the Rochester Honkers 13-1. Eight players recorded hits for Waterloo, while the Bucks' pitching allowed just one hit in the game. Patrick Boyle (Missouri Baptist) allowed a run that was not earned over six innings of work on one hit and three walks with a strikeout. Adam McGinnis (Western Illinois) hit 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Rochester shortstop Keaton Weisz (Auburn) recorded the lone hit for the Honkers.
Tuesday's Schedule
Kenosha @ Kalamazoo (11:05 AM)
Green Bay @ Battle Creek (11:05 AM)
St. Cloud @ Duluth (11:35 AM)
Rockford @ Lakeshore (11:35 AM)
Thunder Bay @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Madison (6:35 PM)
La Crosse @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)
Rochester @ Waterloo (7:05 PM)
Mankato @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
