With just eight games on the Northwoods League schedule on Tuesday night, we saw plenty of exciting baseball as we reach the first week's end of the second half of the season. Elite pitching was on full display in the game between Lakeshore and Rockford in a well-played 1-0 pitcher's duel.

Lakeshore 1, Rockford 0

The Lakeshore Chinooks scored one run in the second inning, and that was all they needed in a 1-0 road victory over the Rockford Rivets on Tuesday night. With a runner at third with two outs in the top of the second, Lakeshore third baseman Kevin Riley (Chaffey CC) reached on an error to shortstop to score the lone run of the game. Rockford starting pitcher Anthony Dahl (Arkansas) had a big game for the Rivets in a losing effort. He threw seven innings and allowed one earned run on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Lakeshore's Marshall Kasowski (Houston) threw five scoreless innings and gave up three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts for the win.

Duluth 6, La Crosse 3

The Duluth Huskies doubled up the La Crosse Loggers by a score of 6-3 at home on Tuesday. Duluth recorded six hits and scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead and extended the deficit to 6-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. La Crosse scored three in the fifth for its only runs of the game. Duluth starter Ryan Tapani (Creighton) threw six innings in the win and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. At the plate, designated hitter Carter Hanford (Jeff Co) reached base three times with two hits and a walk with two RBI.

Wisconsin 4, Battle Creek 2

The Wisconsin Woodchucks jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and held on to defeat the Battle Creek Bombers 4-2 at home. Wisconsin scored twice in the first and added another in the second for the early advantage. Battle Creek got on the board in the fifth with a run, but the Woodchucks answered with one in the bottom half of the inning. The score remained 4-1 until the top of the eighth when the Bombers scored once more. Battle Creek put the tying run at the plate in the ninth but failed to score. Woodchucks' Jonah Dipoto (UC-San Diego) allowed just one run and one hit over six innings of work with 12 strikeouts.

Eau Claire 9, Thunder Bay 3

The Thunder Bay Border Cats fell behind 5-0 and were defeated by the Eau Claire Express 9-3. Eau Claire scored three in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the third. The Border Cats got back into the game with a three-run seventh, but in the bottom half of the inning, the Express plated four runs, capped off by a three-run homer from Sam Hurt (Kent State) for his second home run of the season. Jon Roblez (Alabama State) earned the win for Eau Claire in 6 2/3 innings of work. He gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

Mankato 9, Kalamazoo 5

The Mankato MoonDogs took down the Kalamazoo Growlers 9-5 on Tuesday night at home. Bryce Adams (LSU) had a big game at the plate for the MoonDogs. The first baseman hit 4-for-4 with with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI in the victory. For Kalamazoo, shortstop and leadoff hitter Connor Kopach (Southern Illinois) hit 3-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored, including a home run, with his 24th stolen base of the season. Mankato starting pitcher Jordan Harms (NDSU) picked up the win, as he allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Madison 7, Kenosha 1

The Kenosha Kingfish scored a run in the top of the first inning, but the Madison Mallards scored seven unanswered runs in a 7-1 home victory on Tuesday night. Both teams scored a run in the first, and the game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Madison scored five runs, followed by one in the eighth. Mallards' first baseman Nate Palace (Valparaiso) hit 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI with his second home run of the season. Madison's starting pitcher Mike Byrne (Florida) threw five innings and allowed just one run on three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts for a no decision.

St. Cloud 8, Willmar 5

The St. Cloud Rox took a 6-1 lead and held on to defeat the Willmar Stingers 8-5 on Tuesday night. St. Cloud starting pitcher Carlo Graffeo (Southeastern Louisiana) allowed one unearned run in six innings of work. He allowed five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts to pick up the win. The Rox third baseman Brandon Benson (Georgia College) hit 3-for-4 at the plate and recorded three RBI and a run scored. Centerfielder Ben DeLuzio (Florida State) finished 3-for-4 as well and scored three runs for St. Cloud.

Green Bay 12, Wisconsin Rapids 4

The Green Bay Bullfrogs fell behind 3-0 early but came back to blow out the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 12-4 at home on Tuesday night. Wisconsin Rapids scored once in the first and twice in the second. The Bullfrogs trailed by three until the fifth when they scored five runs, followed by four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh. Green Bay wound up with 13 hits in the game, including a 3-for-5 night for Parker Coss (UC-Irvine) with three RBI and two runs scored. Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir Rhyne University) and Brad Hamilton (Kent State University) both homered for Green Bay.

Wednesday's Schedule

Waterloo @ Rochester (5:05 PM) – Game 1

Waterloo @ Rochester (6:35 PM) – Game 2

Battle Creek @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)

La Crosse @ Duluth (6:35 PM)

Thunder Bay @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)

Green Bay @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)

St. Cloud @ Willmar (7:05 PM)

Waterloo @ Rochester (7:05 PM)

Madison @ Kenosha (7:05 PM)

Kalamazoo @ Mankato (7:05 PM)