On a full slate of Northwoods League action on Thursday night, the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Wisconsin Woodchucks won their fifth consecutive games. The two teams have closed the gap on South Division leader, as both currently boast a 12-7 record, just a half-game behind Wisconsin Rapids in the second-half standings.
La Crosse 8, Duluth 5
The La Crosse Loggers held an 8-0 lead and survived a ninth-inning rally from the Duluth Huskies for an 8-5 victory on the road. La Crosse starting pitcher Jack Ralston (UCLA) threw seven scoreless innings and gave up six hits and two walks with three strikeouts to pick up the victory. Loggers' shortstop Mason McCoy (Iowa) hit 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and one RBI. Centerfielder Lars Nootbaar (USC) also recorded three hits and scored a run. First baseman Grant Fennell (Nevada) finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored with his first home run of the season in the victory.
Battle Creek 6, Kenosha 2
The Battle Creek Bombers took down the Kenosha Kingfish by a score of 6-2 at home on Thursday night. Battle Creek scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the first lead of the game, and Kenosha scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to one. The Bombers added two more in the bottom half of the inning and another in the seventh to make it a four-run advantage. Battle Creek catcher Cody Young (Austin Peay) reached base four times, as he hit 3-for-3 at the plate and was hit by a pitch with two runs scored. Bombers' starter Malcolm Grady (Wabash Valley CC) threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts for the win.
Wisconsin 9, Kalamazoo 7
The Kalamazoo Growlers scored four runs in the second inning, but the Wisconsin Woodchucks came away with a 9-7 road victory. Wisconsin recorded 15 hits in the win, including three from leadoff batter Steele Walker (University of Oklahoma), who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, two RBI and a run scored, including his sixth home run of the season. Woodchucks' second baseman Connor Heady (University of Kentucky) also finished with three hits and three RBI with one run scored.
Mankato 11, Eau Claire 2
The Mankato MoonDogs blew out the Eau Claire Express 11-2 on the road on Thursday night. Mankato scored twice in the second and third innings, followed by three runs in the fourth to take an early 7-0 advantage and never looked back. The MoonDogs recorded nine hits, drew seven walks and took advantage of four Express errors. Mankato designated hitter Jordan Washam (La Tech) finished 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI with a home run. MoonDogs' starting pitcher Jeremy Quinlan (Youngstown State) threw 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts to pick up a win.
Rochester 3, Thunder Bay 0
The Rochester Honkers shut down the Thunder Bay Border Cats 3-0 at home. Rochester's starting pitcher Ricky Delgado (UC Riverside) threw seven scoreless innings and gave up four hits and one walk with four strikeouts for the victory. Reliever Sam Bjorngjeld (Tulane) threw two innings and allowed no runs with five strikeouts for the save. Honkers' second baseman Kyle Kasser (Oregon) reached base three times with two hits and a walk and knocked in two of the three runs for Rochester.
St. Cloud 5, Rockford 2
The Rockford Rivets scored first, but the St. Cloud Rox rallied for three runs in the fifth inning to give them the lead in a 5-2 victory at home. St. Cloud's starting pitcher Dan Metzdorf (Boston College) earned the win and threw 6 1/3 innings, allowed one run on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. The Rox totaled 11 hits in the game, and leftfielder Mason Mamarella (Kent State University) had the biggest night offensively. He finished 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI. Centerfielder Michael Strem (Boston College) also knocked in a run and scored another, finishing with two hits on the night.
Wisconsin Rapids 1, Lakeshore 0
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Lakeshore Chinooks 1-0. After the first 8 1/2 frames went by scoreless, the first Wisconsin Rapids hitters were retired in the top of the ninth before the rally. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Patrick Cromwell (Clemson) scored from third on a wild pitch for the game-winning run. It was an impressive night for the starting pitchers, who both finished with no decisions. Wisconsin Rapids' Eric Ligda (Millersville) threw seven scoreless innings and gave up three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. For Lakeshore, Marshall Kasowski (Houston) threw seven shutout innings as well and allowed three hits and zero walks with 12 strikeouts.
Green Bay 9, Madison 0
The Green Bay Bullfrogs crushed the Madison Mallards in all categories in a 9-0 home win on Thursday. Green Bay outhit the Mallards 15-2, and Madison finished the game with six errors in the loss. Bullfrogs' starter Luke Lind (North Dakota State University) threw eight scoreless innings and allowed two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts to earn the victory. Offensively, Green Bay's leftfielder Jonah Davis (University of California) hit 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI, while centerfielder Laren Eustace (Indiana University) finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Willmar 6, Waterloo 2
The Willmar Stingers led from start to finish in a 6-2 road victory over the Waterloo Bucks on Thursday night. Willmar got on the board quickly, as the first five hitters reached base as the Stingers scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Willmar first baseman Greg Lambert (Southern Illinois) hit 3-for-4 at the plate with one walk and a run scored. Stingers' starter Caleb Arbetier (Murray State) earned the victory, as he threw five innings and allowed one run on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Jake Rothwell (Daytona State) threw the final four innings to pick up the save.
Friday's Schedule
La Crosse @ Duluth (6:35 PM)
Mankato @ Eau Claire (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
Lakeshore @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Rockford @ St. Cloud (7:05 PM)
Willmar @ Waterloo (7:05 PM)
Kenosha @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Madison (7:05 PM)
