In a full Northwoods League schedule, the outcomes ranged from offensive domination to a pitcher's duel. Thunder Bay outslugged Willmar in one of the highest-scoring games of the season with 29 combined runs, while it took just one run for Madison to defeat Lakeshore on Thursday night.
Wisconsin Rapids 7, Green Bay 3
After giving up the lead, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored four runs in the eighth to defeat the Green Bay Bullfrogs 7-3 at home. The Rafters got on the board first with a three-run homer from Jake Lumley (Canisius) in the bottom of the second inning. The score remained 3-0 until Green Bay rallied for three in the top of the eighth to tie the game. In the bottom half of the eighth, Wisconsin Rapids scored four runs with a two-RBI single from Doak Dozier (Virginia), a run-scoring fielder's choice hit by Demetrius Sims (Bethune-Cookman), who also stole home for the final run of the game. Chris Cooper (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) had another phenomenal game on the mound for the Woodchucks. He threw seven scoreless innings on seven hits and zero walks with two strikeouts to improve to 4-0.
Thunder Bay 15, Willmar 14
The Thunder Bay Border Cats won a wild game over the Willmar Stingers 15-14 in one of the biggest offensive outputs in the Northwoods League season. The two teams combined for 29 runs on 37 hits and 12 walks, and every batter in the starting lineup recorded a hit for both teams. Despite all the success on offense, there was just one home run hit in the game. Willmar scored two runs in the top of the first, but Thunder Bay exploded for eight in the second. Later in the game, the Stingers tied the game at 11 with four runs in the fifth and took a one-run advantage with another in the sixth. The Border Cats scored four in the bottom of the inning and allowed two in the eighth in the win.
St. Cloud 5, La Crosse 4
The St. Cloud Rox came back from a three-run deficit to defeat the La Crosse Loggers 5-4 on Thursday night at home. La Crosse scored one in the top of the first and two in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. St. Cloud took the lead in the bottom half of the inning and rallied for four runs to take a 4-3 advantage. The Rox added another run in the sixth, and the Loggers answered with one in the seventh, but it was not enough to beat the Rox. St. Cloud rightfielder Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) hit 2-for-5 and knocked in two runs in the game.
Rochester 6, Eau Claire 3
Two three-run innings gave the Rochester Honkers a 6-3 home victory over the Eau Claire Express. The Honkers scored three in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Casey Worden (UC-Riverside). After the Express scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth with a two-run shot from Rudy Rott (Ohio University) to tie the game at three, Eau Claire scored three in the seventh on a three-run homer from Drew Ellis (Louisville). Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) and Kyle Kasser (Oregon) each recorded two hits in the victory for the Honkers.
Waterloo 4, Mankato 3
The Waterloo Bucks scored a run in the fifth inning to break the tie, which ended up being the game-winning run in a 4-3 victory over the Mankato MoonDogs at home. Waterloo rallied for three in the bottom of the fourth inning to open up the scoring, but Mankato answered right back wtih three of its own in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, Robert Neustrom (Iowa) reached on a fielder's choice to score a run to give the Bucks the lead for good. Neustrom had a big day at the plate, as he hit 3-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Madison 1, Lakeshore 0
In the ultimate pitcher's duel score, the Madison Mallards defeated the Lakeshore Chinooks 1-0 at home. The lone run came in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Mallards when leftfielder Josh Stowers (Louisville) connected on a solo home run. Madison had four pitchers combine for a six-hit shutout. Mitch Vogrin (Illinois State) went four innings in his first start of the season and did not allow a run with three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Lakeshore starter Marshall Kasowski (Houston) threw a phenomenal game in the loss. He threw seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts on the night.
Battle Creek 8, Kenosha 6
The Battle Creek Bombers had consistent scoring throughout the night, as they defeated the Kenosha Kingfish 8-6 on Thursday. Battle Creek scored in every inning except the second and fifth. Trailing 1-0 early, the Kingfish scored four in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Battle Creek later tied the game at four in the fourth. Kenosha scored in the fifth, but the Bombers answered in the sixth. Both teams scored a run in the seventh to make it a 6-6 game. Battle Creek scored a run in the eighth and ninth for the 8-6 victory. Dean Miller (Riverside City College) hit 2-for-3 with two walks, two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Rockford 8, Kalamazoo 7
The Rockford Rivets hit three home runs in an 8-7 victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers at home. Hunter Hargrove (Texas Tech) hit his first of two home runs with a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning. Kalamazoo scored four in the third inning that began the scoring with a two-run homer from Matt Lloyd (Iowa Western). Rockford tied the game at four with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Hargrove broke the tie with another three-run homer in the fifth, which was followed by a solo home run from Ricardo Ramirez (UIC) two batters later to give the Rivets an 8-4 advantage. Kalamazoo scored three in the sixth, but it was not enough for the win.
Duluth 11, Wisconsin 1
The Duluth Huskies scored five runs in the second inning and led the rest of the way to defeat the Wisconsin Woodchucks 11-1 on Thursday night. Ryan Tapani (Creighton) earned the win as he threw five scoreless innings and allowed five hits and zero walks with seven strikeouts. Duluth scored five runs in the second, including a leadoff home run from Carter Hanford (Jeff Co), which was followed by a bases-clearing double hit by Justin Ambrosino (West Florida). With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, Huskies' shortstop Liam Sabino (Vanderbilt) launched a grand-slam home run to give Duluth an 11-1 lead.
Friday's Schedule
Willmar @ Thunder Bay (1:35 PM)
Madison @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Mankato @ Waterloo (7:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Duluth @ Wisconsin (7:05 PM)
Battle Creek @ Kenosha (7:05 PM)
Rochester @ Eau Claire (7:05 PM)
La Crosse @ St. Cloud (7:05 PM)
