It was an action-packed Wednesday in the Northwoods League with a total of 14 games on the schedule. While 14 teams completed doubleheaders today, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lakeshore and Kenosha all had the day off. The most exciting moment of the day came in the bottom of the 10th inning when Madison had a walk-off grand slam to defeat Rockford in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
Rockford 7, Madison 3 – Game 1
The Rockford Rivets pounded out 10 hits in a 7-3 victory over the Madison Mallards in Game 1 of the doubleheader in Rockford. The game was tied at 2 after four innings, but the Rivets scored two in the fifth and three in the sixth to extend the lead. The Mallards scored one in the top of the seventh inning, but it was not enough to beat Rockford. Seven Rivets batters recorded hits, and leftfielder Michael Smith (San Jacinto JC) reached base in all four plate appearances, as he finished 3-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. Rockford pitching surrendered just five hits to Madison.
Madison 5, Rockford 1 – Game 2
One big swing of the bat gave the Madison Mallards the 5-1 victory over the Rockford Rivets, as the teams made the trip to Madison for Game 2. In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the 10th inning, Madison recorded three consecutive singles to load the bases. Mallards' rightfielder Zach Jarrett (UNC-Charlotte) hit a walk-off, grand-slam home run to give Madison the win. In the game, Jarrett hit 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Mallards' starter Heath Renz (UW-Whitewater) finished with a no decision and allowed one run on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.
La Crosse 7, Waterloo 2 – Game 1
The La Crosse Loggers recorded all seven of their runs in the middle innings to defeat the Waterloo Bucks 7-2 on the road. After a pair of scoreless innings, La Crosse broke the tie with three runs in the top of the third inning, followed by one in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the sixth. Six batters in the Loggers lineup recorded multiple hits in the game. Griffin Conine (Duke) hit 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored with his third home run of the season. La Crosse starter Mark Nowaczewski (Nevada) allowed nine hits but gave up just two runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts.
La Crosse 7, Waterloo 2 – Game 2
Following the La Crosse Loggers' Game 1 victory over the Waterloo Bucks, the two teams hit the road. The second game of Wednesday's doubleheader was played in La Crosse, but the score was the exact same as the first game with the Loggers winning 7-2. La Crosse starter Andrew Perez (South Florida) allowed one hit over five innings of work and gave up four hits and three walks with four strikeouts to pick up the win. Loggers' second baseman Justin Wylie (San Diego State) hit 3-for-5 with a run batted in.
Green Bay 6, Wisconsin 5 – Game 1
The Green Bay Bullfrogs rallied late to defeat the Wisconsin Woodchucks 6-5 at home. Wisconsin scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held a 5-3 advantage after 7 1/2 innings of play. In the bottom half of the seventh, the Bullfrogs scored a pair of runs on a homer from Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir-Rhyne University) to tie the game at five. Laren Eustace (Indiana University) hit a RBI double to give Green Bay the 6-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Wisconsin rallied but stranded the bases loaded in the ninth, as Matt Gunter (Hawaii Pacific University) got a strikeout to end the game.
Green Bay 13, Wisconsin 2 – Game 2
Game 2 was held at the Wisconsin Woodchucks' Athletic Park, and the Green Bay Bullfrogs dominated the Woodchucks 13-2 to sweep the doubleheader. Green Bay pounded out 16 hits and scored in seven of the nine innings in the win. All nine Bullfrogs batters to record an at-bat recorded at least one hit. Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir-Rhyne University) hit 3-for-5 with a walk and four runs batted in for the Bullfrogs. Green Bay starter Matt Ellenbest (Morehead State University) allowed one run over seven innings and allowed five hits with zero walks and four strikeouts to pick up the victory.
Thunder Bay 11, Duluth 6 – Game 1
The Thunder Bay Border Cats scored five runs in the top of the first inning and led the rest of the way to defeat the Duluth Huskies 11-6 in the first game of the doubleheader in Duluth. The Huskies cut the deficit to two with four runs in the fourth to make it a 7-5 game, but they never got closer than that. Thunder Bay centerfielder Anthony Brocato (St. Johns University) hit 4-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. Border Cats shortstop Andrew Fregia (Sam Houston State University) finished 2-for-4 and crushed his fourth home run of the season in the victory.
Duluth 2, Thunder Bay 0 – Game 2
A few hours after Game 1, the Duluth Huskies defeated the Thunder Bay Border Cats 2-0 to split the doubleheader. Duluth starter Payton Robinson (Southeastern Louisiana) threw seven scoreless innings and allowed two hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts for the win. The lone scoring play of the game came in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Brendan McClary (Columbia Basin) singled to score two runs, which wound up being the game-winning hit. Huskies' third baseman Carter Hanford (Jeff Co) hit 3-for-4 with a run scored in the game.
Mankato 10, Rochester 8 – Game 1
The Mankato MoonDogs defeated the Rochester Honkers 10-8 in a big offensive battle in Mankato. The MoonDogs jumped out to a 6-2 advantage after four innings but lost the lead when Rochester scored three runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game at eight heading into the seventh. Drew Fearing (NDSU) led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run, and Mankato scored again in the inning to take a 10-8 lead. The Honkers, who actually outhit the MoonDogs 12-10 and hit three home runs in the contest, went down in order in the final two innings.
Mankato 5, Rochester 4 – Game 2
The Mankato MoonDogs swept the doubleheader with a 5-4 victory over the Rochester Honkers on Wednesday night in Rochester. The MoonDogs held a 5-1 lead and survived a late rally from the Honkers, who recorded three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Rochester outhit Mankato again 11-10 in the second game but did not put a base runner on in the ninth for the loss. Mankato first baseman Bryce Adams (LSU) hit 2-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI, including a home run. With the two wins, the MoonDogs moved within 1 1/2 games of first place in the North Division.
Eau Claire 5, Wisconsin Rapids 3 – Game 1
The Eau Claire Express' three-run fourth inning was the difference in a 5-3 victory over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in Eau Claire. The Rafters broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning, but Eau Claire tied it at three with a run in the bottom half of the inning, followed by a two-run homer from Ben Mezzenga (Minnesota) for a 5-3 advantage. The final five innings were scoreless, as the Express picked up the victory in Game 1. Chase Beal (Yavapai) earned the victory with six innings of work and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Dylan Smith (Weatherford College) struck out the side in the ninth to pick up the save.
Wisconsin Rapids 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters jumped out to a six-run lead and defeated the Eau Claire Express 8-4 to split Wednesday's doubleheader in Eau Claire. Wisconsin Rapids starter Damien Richard (Xavier) earned the victory with six innings of work and allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Joe Wainhouse (Washington) threw a scoreless ninth inning with three strikeouts and also did some damage at the plate. Wainhouse finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.
St. Cloud 5, Willmar 2 – Game 1
The St. Cloud Rox received a solid performance from their starting pitcher in a 5-2 victory over the Willmar Stingers in Willmar. In eight innings of work, Austin Dubsky (Murray State) did not allow a run and allowed six hits and three walks with five strikeouts for the victory. This is the second consecutive start he threw eight shutout innings, as he improved his record to 3-0 and lowered his earned run average to 1.05 in five starts. St. Cloud leftfielder Drew Freedman (Wake Forest University) hit 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, and rightfielder Mason Mamarella (Kent State University) recorded three hits as well.
Willmar 6, St. Cloud 3 – Game 2
The Willmar Stingers earned a split of the doubleheader on Wednesday by defeating the St. Cloud Rox 6-3. Willmar led from the start with a three-run bottom of the first inning and held its lead throughout the game. The Stingers finished with nine hits, and catcher Travis Wacker (Oklahoma State) hit 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Jayce Vancena (Michigan) earned the victory with 6 2/3 innings of work and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Max Green (Pepperdine) finished the rest of the game and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Thursday's Schedule
Duluth @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Eau Claire @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Lakeshore @ Madison (7:05 PM)
Battle Creek @ Kenosha (7:05 PM)
La Crosse @ St. Cloud (7:05 PM)
Mankato @ Waterloo (7:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Willmar @ Thunder Bay (7:05 PM)
