The Northwoods League saw another come-from-behind win in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters trailed the Battle Creek Bombers by one going into the bottom of the ninth before the Rafters scored twice to tie and then win the game.
Kalamazoo 10, Kenosha 8
The Kalamazoo Growlers defeated the Kenosha Kingfish 10-8 in an offensive battle on Tuesday night at home. Both teams combined for seven home runs total in the game. Kenosha scored five runs in the top of the second inning, capped off by a three-run homer from Rob Henry (Brown University). Kalamazoo answered in the bottom half of the inning with five runs of their own with a three-run shot hit by Matt Lloyd (Iowa Western), followed by a solo homer from Nick Hutchins (Southern Illinois). Kenosha led 8-7 in the eighth, but the Growlers took a two-run lead with another home run from Hutchins to make it a 10-8 win for Kalamazoo.
Thunder Bay 11, Waterloo 7
The Thunder Bay Border Cats jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held on to defeat the Waterloo Bucks 11-7 at home. Thunder Bay designated hitter Shane Shepard (North Carolina State) hit 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, five RBI and three runs scored, including a grand-slam home run in the fourth inning. Shortstop Andy Weber (University of Virginia) also finished with three hits for the Border Cats, as he hit 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored. Thunder Bay centerfielder and leadoff batter Jesse Lee (University of Rhode Island) finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Green Bay 3, Duluth 0
The Green Bay Bullfrogs shut out the Duluth Huskies and scored three unanswered runs in a 3-0 road victory on Tuesday night. Jonah Davis (University of California) drove in the first run of the game for Green Bay in the top of the fourth inning and added two more in the eighth for the three-run lead. Bullfrogs' starter Connor Hock (Notre Dame) threw six scoreless innings and gave up five hits and three walks with two strikeouts to pick up the win. Duluth starter Payton Robinson (Southeastern Louisiana) picked up the loss and threw 7 1/3 innings and allowed three unearned runs on eight hits and three walks with a strikeout.
Wisconsin 8, Rockford 4
The Wisconsin Woodchucks scored the first four runs of the game and doubled up the Rockford Rivets 8-4 on the road. Eight of the nine batters in the Woodchucks lineup recorded at least one hit. First baseman Steve Passatempo (UMass Lowell) had another big game, as he hit 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored, including two home runs. Wisconsin's centerfielder Jared Oliva (University of Arizona) finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, three runs scored and a RBI in the win. For Rockford, Cade Bunnell (Madison Tech) finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in the loss.
Willmar 8, Eau Claire 2
The Willmar Stingers jumped out to a 7-0 lead and beat the Eau Claire Express 8-2 at home on Tuesday night. Willmar starting pitcher Corey Binger (Nebraska Omaha) picked up the win and threw 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Stingers' centerfielder Danny Pardo (Montevallo) was the only batter for Willmar to record two hits, as he hit 2-for-4 with a walk and one run scored. Willmar's shortstop Dylan Woods (Nova Southeastern) homered in the win.
St. Cloud 9, Mankato 6
The St. Cloud Rox used a five-run fifth inning to take down the Mankato MoonDogs 9-6 on the road Tuesday night. Both teams recorded 10 hits in the game. St. Cloud third baseman Denis Karas (Cal Berkeley) finished 2-for-5 at the plate and knocked in three runs. For Mankato, leftfielder Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) hit 2-for-3 with a walk, five RBI and two runs scored, including his 10th home run of the season in the loss.
Wisconsin Rapids 7, Battle Creek 6
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters earned a walk-off victory over the Battle Creek Bombers by a score of 7-6. Wisconsin Rapids trailed by a run heading into the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Rafters tied the game at six with a fielder's choice from Scott Kapers (Valparaiso). Two batters later, Demetrius Sims (Bethune-Cookman) singled with the bases loaded to score the game-winning run for the Rafters. Wisconsin Rapids second baseman Jake Lumley (Canisius) finished 3-for-5 with one run scored. For Battle Creek, Nick Podkul (Notre Dame) hit 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored with a pair of home runs.
Madison 15, Lakeshore 3
The Madison Mallards pounded out 17 hits as they blew out the Lakeshore Chinooks 15-3 at home on Tuesday night. Madison first baseman Nate Palace (Valparaiso) finished 4-for-6 at the plate and knocked in six runs and scored three runs, including two home runs, while second baseman Nick Roark (Oral Roberts) hit 4-for-5 with one run scored and a RBI. Mallards' starter Heath Renz (UW-Whitewater) threw five innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts to pick up the win.
La Crosse 8, Rochester 6
The La Crosse Loggers scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Rochester Honkers 8-6 on the road. The game was tied at five after six innings before the Loggers' three-run rally. Rochester scored once in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to two. La Crosse reliever Dave Smith (Long Beach State) threw a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. Loggers' leftfielder Griffin Conine (Duke) hit his 10th home run of the season, and catcher Cesar Salazar (Arizona) hit 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
Wednesday's Schedule
Wisconsin @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Green Bay @ Duluth (6:35 PM)
St. Cloud @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Battle Creek @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Waterloo @ Thunder Bay (7:05 PM)
Eau Claire @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
Lakeshore @ Madison (7:05 PM)
Kenosha @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
La Crosse @ Rochester (7:05 PM)