Whether it was a come-from behind effort or a team was holding on to survive its opponent's late-inning rally, there were several games that featured plenty of action in the final few innings on Monday night in the Northwoods League. The game between St. Cloud and La Crosse was canceled due to weather and will not be made up.
Wisconsin 4, Thunder Bay 1
The Wisconsin Woodchucks had a pair of two-run frames in the late innings to defeat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 4-1 on Monday night on the road. After a scoreless first five innings, Wisconsin scored first with two runs in the top of the sixth with RBI from Steve Passatempo (UMass Lowell) and Steven Mangrum (Virginia Tech). The Woodchucks added two more in the eighth to take a 4-0 lead after a two-RBI double from Passatempo. Robert Zeigler (Kent State University) threw seven scoreless innings for Wisconsin and allowed five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts for the win.
Kalamazoo 5, Madison 3
The Kalamazoo Growlers scored four runs late to take the lead and beat the Madison Mallards 5-3 at home. Trailing 3-1 heading into the seventh, Brandon Gomez (Nova Southeastern) connected on a two-run homer to tie the game at three. In the bottom of the eighth, the Growlers scored two more to take a 5-3 lead and shut the Mallards down in order in the ninth to secure the victory. BJ Butler (Ball State) threw a complete game for Kalamazoo and allowed three runs on eight hits and no walks with three strikeouts to improve to 3-2 with a 1.41 earned run average.
Battle Creek 7, Rockford 5
The Battle Creek Bombers defeated the Rockford Rivets 7-5 in a back-and-forth game throughout the night. Battle Creek scored two in the bottom of the first, and Rockford answered with two in the top of the second. The Bombers scored three in the sixth, but the Rivets came right back with three in the seventh. In the bottom half of the seventh, Battle Creek's Cody Sporrer (UC-Riverside) hit a two-run homer to put the Bombers ahead 7-5, and Rockford was unable to respond. Tommy Parsons (Adrian College) threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits and no walks with eight strikeouts to pick up the win.
Mankato 15, Duluth 5
The Mankato MoonDogs exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a tie with the Duluth Huskies in a 15-5 victory on Monday. Duluth scored five in the top of the fourth, and the game was all knotted up at five after four innings of play. After a couple scoreless frames, Mankato sent 12 batters to the plate and recorded six hits in a seven-run seventh to blow the game wide open. The MoonDogs added three in the eighth. Third baseman and leadoff hitter David Metzgar (Cal St. Bakersfield) hit 5-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored.
Green Bay 10, Lakeshore 6
The Green Bay Bullfrogs used a seven-run sixth inning to takd down the Lakeshore Chinooks 10-6 at home on Monday night. After five innings, Green Bay held a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bullfrogs sent 12 batters to the plate and recorded five hits to take a 9-0 advantage. Green Bay centerfielder Laren Eustace (Indiana University) finished 2-for-5 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored. Luke Lind (North Dakota State University) threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts to pick up the win.
Rochester 11, Willmar 9
The Rochester Honkers survived a late-inning surge from the Willmar Stingers in an 11-9 home victory. Rochester led 9-3 after seven innings before Willmar made things interesting with four funs in the top of the eighth. Rochester scored two much-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth before the Stingers scored twice in the top of the ninth and left a pair of runners on base in the two-run loss. Honkers' designated hitter Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge) hit 3-for-5 and finished with four runs batted in and one run scored.
Wisconsin Rapids 8, Kenosha 5
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters came back from three runs down early to defeat the Kenosha Kingfish 8-5 on Monday night. Wisconsin Rapids scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, but the Kingfish scored four in the second to take a three-run advantage. The Rafters scored two in the third and two more in the fourth to take the lead for good. Wisconsin Rapids second baseman Jake Lumley (Canisius) hit 3-for-6 at the plate and scored two runs with a RBI. Patrick Cromwell (Clemson) finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
Eau Claire 10, Waterloo 6
The Eau Claire Express jumped out to a 5-0 advantage after the first two innings and took down the Waterloo Bucks 10-6 on Monday night on the road. Waterloo cut the lead to two in the fifth, but the Express put the game away with a five-run top of the ninth. Eau Claire catcher Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) hit 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Rightfielder Jared Mang (New Mexico) finished 2-for-5 with three runs batted in and a run scored. Caleb Boushley (UW-La Crosse) threw six innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts to pick up the victory.
Tuesday's Schedule
La Crosse @ Duluth (6:35 PM)
Lakeshore @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)
Battle Creek @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Willmar @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Green Bay (7:05 PM)
Kenosha @ Madison (7:05 PM)
