The Northwoods League has featured quite a few walk-off victories in the 2016 season, and Wednesday night was no different. The Eau Claire Express loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and took down the Thunder Bay Border Cats with two-out, bases-loaded, full-count walk to win 2-1 in one of the best games of the night.
Rochester 7, Waterloo 5 – Game 1
The Rochester Honkers defeated the Waterloo Bucks 7-5 in a game that was made up from July 5. The game resumed in the fifth inning, and Rochester held a 6-2 lead, as the Honkers held on for the victory. Rochester was outhit 9-4 in the game but drew six walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches. Third baseman Drew Ellis (Louisville) hit his seventh home run of the season with a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rochester starting pitcher Issac Friesen (Hawaii) threw a complete game and allowed five runs on nine hits a walk with six strikeouts to pick up the win.
Rochester 6, Waterloo 2 – Game 2
The Rochester Honkers completed the Sweep of the Willmar Stingers by a score of 6-2 in a seven-inning contest. Waterloo scored the first two runs before Rochester scored six unanswered for the victory. Waterloo's Alex Boxwell (Minnesota) homered in the first, and Jake Hand (Southern Illinois University) did the same in the second. The Honkers scored twice in the third to tie the game, took the lead with two in the fifth to take the lead and added with two more in the sixth to make it a four-run game. Honkers' second baseman and leadoff batter Kyle Kasser (Oregon) hit 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
Rockford 2, Lakeshore 1
The Rockford Rivets scored a run in the second inning and another in the third to defeat the Lakeshore Chinooks 2-1 on the road. Gavin Johnson (Rice) doubled to score a run in the top of the second, and Hunter Hargrove (Texas Tech) hit a solo home run in the third. Lakeshore scored its lone run of the game on a Cody Ducote (LSU) double in the bottom of the fifth. The Chinooks starter Tyler Jandron (UW-Parkside) had a big day in the loss. He threw eight innings and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks with six strikeouts. Rockford's Cory Wright (Parkland CC) threw seven innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
Wisconsin 11, Battle Creek 4
The Wisconsin Woodchucks exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning and defeated the Battle Creek Bombers 11-4 on Wednesday night. After five scoreless innings to begin the game, Battle Creek scored one run in the top of the sixth before the Woodchucks sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-1 lead. Wisconsin designated hitter and leadoff batter Steele Walker (University of Oklahoma) finished 4-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs with three RBI. Scott Parker (University of San Francisco) threw six innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks with no strikeouts for the victory.
Eau Claire 2, Thunder Bay 1
The Eau Claire Express scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Thunder Bay Border Cats in a walk-off victory. With the game tied at one in the ninth, Eau Claire had the bases loaded with two outs and a full count, and Mickey McDonald (UI-Chicago) drew a walk for the win. Express starting pitcher Austin Schulfer (Milwaukee) threw six innings and allowed one run on six hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts in the no decision. Thunder Bay's Joey Burris (Southeast Missouri State) also threw well with six shutout innings and allowed five hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.
Green Bay 8, Wisconsin Rapids 2
The Green Bay Bullfrogs scored four runs in the top of the first inning and jumped out to an 8-0 lead after four innings to defeat the Wisconsin Rapids 8-2 on the road Wednesday night. Green Bay hit a pair of home runs in the first inning to take a 4-0 advantage. First baseman Quincy Nieporte (Florida State) hit a three-run homer to begin the scoring, and Hill Alexander (Midland College) connected on a solo shot later in the inning. Bullfrogs' Stuart Springer (St. Edwards) threw 8 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.
Willmar 2, St. Cloud 1
The Willmar Stingers tied and took the lead late to defeat the St. Cloud Rox 2-1 at home. The first six innings of the game went by scoreless, and St. Cloud got on the board first with a run in the top of the seventh. Willmar tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and took a 2-1 advantage with a solo home run in the eighth from Justin Toerner (Cal State Northridge) for his fourth homer of the season. Stingers' starter Jayce Vancena (Michigan) allowed one run on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in seven innings of work in a no decision.
Mankato 8, Kalamazoo 6
The Mankato MoonDogs overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Kalamazoo Growlers 8-6 at home on Wednesday night. Kalamazoo scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 6-2 advantage. Mankato answered with a four-run bottom of the sixth to tie the game, and Marcus Pingleton (Heartland CC) homered in the seventh to give the MoonDogs a 7-6 lead. They added one more in the eighth with a solo home run by Jake Roberts (Gonzaga) for the final run of the game. Roberts hit 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored with his first homer of the season.
Madison 7, Kenosha 0
The Madison Mallards held the Kenosha Kingfish scoreless in a 7-0 victory on Wednesday night on the road. Madison starting pitcher Frank German (North Florida) threw six shutout innings and gave up three hits and a walk with eight strikeout to pick up the victory. For the Kingfish, Charlie Hecht (Georgia College) threw six innings and gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Nate Palace (Valparaiso) connected on his third home run of the season for Madison, and Zach Jarrett (UNC-Charlotte) hit 2-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI.
La Crosse 4, Duluth 2
The La Crosse Loggers scored two runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Duluth Huskies 4-2 on the road Wednesday night. Duluth held a 2-1 before the Loggers scored in the top of the eighth to tie the game at two. In the top of the ninth with two outs, La Crosse rightfielder Lorenzo Hampton Jr. (California) doubled to score two runs to give the Loggers a 4-2 advantage. Duluth put a runner on in the bottom half of the ninth but failed to score in a two-run loss. La Crosse leftfielder Justin Wylie (San Diego State) hit 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI with a solo home run.
Thursday's Schedule
Green Bay @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Eau Claire @ La Crosse (7:05 PM)
Rockford @ Madison (7:05 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Duluth @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
Battle Creek @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Lakeshore @ Kenosha (7:05 PM)
Mankato @ St. Cloud (7:05 PM)