The Northwoods League produced plenty of offense in Friday night's action, which included a full slate of nine games as we get closer to the end of the first half of the season. Five teams came away with double-digit runs on the night, which all finished up as blowout victories.
Willmar 11, Thunder Bay 4
The Willmar Stingers blew out the Thunder Bay Border Cats 11-4 on the road Friday afternoon. Willmar scored four runs in the top of the first inning with a pair of two-RBI doubles from Danny Mayer (Pacific) and Eddie Estrada (Minnesota), and the Stingers never looked back, as they led the rest of the way. Estrada finished 4-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored for the Stingers. Blake Stockert (North Dakota State) allowed one run on five hits and zero walks with six strikeouts over six innings of work to pick up the victory and improved his record to 3-1 and lowered his earned run average to 1.05 in five starts.
Kalamazoo 11, Rockford 1
The Kalamazoo Growlers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning and took down the Rockford Rivets 11-1 on the road. Kalamazoo scored two in the top of the first and rallied for five more in the second, highlighted by a bases-loaded double hit by Brandon Gomez (Nova Southeastern), who had a big night at the plate for the Growlers. He finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. On the mound, Jacob Piechota (Western Michigan) allowed just one run on nine hits and zero walks with three strikeouts over seven innings for the win in his third start.
Eau Claire 13, Rochester 3
The Eau Claire Express scored in all but two innings to defeat the Rochester Honkers 13-3 at home. Eau Claire did most of its damage at the bottom of the order with the No. 7, 8 and 9 hitters combining for eight hits in the game. Sam Hurt (Kent State) hit 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, ared Mang (New Mexico) finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI, including a home run, and Ripken Reyes (California) hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Eau Claire starter Caleb Boushley (UW-La Crosse) allowed one run on four hits and zero walks with seven strikeouts over seven innings of work for the win.
St. Cloud 6, La Crosse 0
The St. Cloud Rox shut out the La Crosse Loggers 6-0 on Friday night at home. St. Cloud starter Dan Metzdorf (Boston College) earned his first win of the season, as he threw six scoreless innings and allowed two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Offensively for the Rox, second baseman Drew Freedman (Wake Forest University) reached base on all five plate appearances with two hits, a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch. He also scored two runs as well. The Rox improved to 22-9 for first place in the North Division, 1 1/2 games ahead of Eau Claire.
Lakeshore 14, Madison 3
The Lakeshore Chinooks recorded a whopping 21 hits in a 14-3 rout of the Madison Mallards at home. Lakeshore leftfielder and leadoff hitter Joe Duncan (Eastern Illinois) hit 5-for-6 with two runs scored and a RBI. Matt Johnson (South Dakota State), Hayden Senger (Miami-Ohio), James Bleming (Lehigh) and Owen Miller (Illinois State) each recorded three hits for the Chinooks. Lakeshore starter Tyler Jandron (UW-Parkside) threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs, both of which were unearned, on five hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts to earn the win.
Battle Creek 7, Kenosha 5
The Battle Creek Bombers took a 7-1 lead and held on for a 7-5 road victory over the Kenosha Kingfish. After a scoreless first four innings, Battle Creek got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth and two in the sixth. After Kenosha scored its first run, the Bombers scored four in the seventh, capped off by a three-run homer from Daniel Jipping (Central Michigan) for his sixth home run of the season. The Kingfish responded with four in the bottom half of the inning, but that was the final score of the game. Battle Creek starter Jordan Horak (Portland) threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on one hit and six walks with a strikeout.
Mankato 4, Waterloo 1
The Mankato MoonDogs took down the Waterloo Bucks 4-1 on Friday night on the road. Waterloo scored one in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead, but Mankato scored four unanswered runs for the victory. MoonDogs starter Reece Eddins (Nebraska) threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts to earn the victory. Mankato leftfielder Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) hit a solo home run for his sixth of the season. The MoonDogs improved to 20-12, while the Bucks dropped 20-11 on the season.
Wisconsin Rapids 11, Green Bay 3
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters jumped out to an 11-0 lead after four innings and beat the Green Bay Bullfrogs at home by a score of 11-3. Wisconsin Rapids recorded 19 hits in the game, and 11 batters had hits for the Rafters. Designated hitter Joe Wainhouse (Washington) hit 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored with a home run, which was his second of the season. Enrique Zamora (Calumet College of St. Joseph) had a big day on the mound as well for the Rafters. He threw five scoreless innings and allowed three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts to pick up the victory.
Duluth 8, Wisconsin 5
The Duluth Huskies gave up the lead in the ninth to put the game into extra innings but scored three in the 10th to defeat the Wisconsin Woodchucks 8-5 on the road. Duluth trailed 3-1 but scored two in the seventh, one in the eighth and another in the ninth to take a 5-3 advantage. The Woodchucks scored two in the bottom half of the ninth to tie the game and force extra innings. The Huskies had three hits and a walk in the 10th and were aided by an error to give them the 8-5 lead. Wisconsin put a runner on in the bottom of the inning, but he did not score, as Duluth left with the victory.
Saturday's Schedule
Kenosha @ Rockford (4:05 PM) – Game 1
Rockford @ Kenosha (6:05 PM) – Game 2
St. Cloud @ Madison (5:05 PM)
Lakeshore @ Battle Creek (6:05 PM)
Mankato @ La Crosse (6:05 PM)
Willmar @ Thunder Bay (6:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Waterloo @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)
Duluth @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
