On a full night of action in the Northwoods League on July 29, the Mankato MoonDogs outlasted the Eau Claire Express 6-4 in a 12-inning game. In another exciting finish, the Madison Mallards beat the Green Bay Bullfrogs on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th for the win.
Kalamazoo 4, Wisconsin 2
The Kalamazoo Growlers took down the Wisconsin Woodchucks 4-2 on Friday night at home. Kalamazoo opened up the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the third inning, and Wisconsin answered with one in the fourth to cut the deficit in half. The Growlers scored the next two runs to make it a 4-1 game before Wisconsin's ninth-inning rally came up short with just one run in the frame. Kalamazoo's starting pitcher Devin Pellien (Nova Southeastern) threw eight innings and surrendered one run on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts to pick up the victory.
Kenosha 6, Battle Creek 5
The Kenosha Kingfish held an early 5-0 lead and survived a ninth-inning rally to beat the Battle Creek Bombers 6-5 on the road Friday night. Kenosha scored three times in the top of the first inning and added two more in the third for the five-run deficit. Each team added a run to make it 6-1 going into the bottom of the ninth. Battle Creek scored four runs in the inning without recording a hit. There were three walks, two errors and a wild pitch in the frame, but Nick Podkul (Notre Dame) flew out to rightfield to end the game. Kingfish starter Charlie Hecht (Georgia College) earned the win and gave up one run on seven hits and two walks over six innings of work with four strikeouts.
La Crosse 7, Duluth 5
The La Crosse Loggers scored five runs in the top of the third inning in a 7-5 victory over the Duluth Huskies on the road. Duluth scored the first two runs of the game with one in the first and second innings. La Crosse sent 11 batters to the plate in the third in the five-run rally to take a three-run lead. Duluth cut the deficit to one with a run in the fifth and seventh. The Loggers added two big insurance runs in the top of the ninth, and the Huskies scored once in the bottom half of the inning. La Crosse's Andrew Perez (South Florida) picked up the win and threw five innings, gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Rochester 6, Thunder Bay 5
The Rochester Honkers scored four runs late to beat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 6-5 at home. Rochester scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the second with back-to-back homers from Josh Davis (Pepperdine and Drew Ellis (Louisville) to begin the inning. Ellis finished 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and a run scored. Thunder Bay took a three-run lead with a run in the third followed by a four-run sixth. The Honkers answered right back with two in the seventh and two in the eighth to regain the lead by one.
Madison 6, Green Bay 5
The Madison Mallards beat the Green Bay Bullfrogs 6-5 at home on Friday night thanks to a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning. With the game tied at five, Mallards' leftfielder Nelson Maldonado (Florida) hit a solo home run to lead off the inning for the game-winner. Maldonado finished 2-for-4 on the night with a walk, two RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Madison first baseman Nate Palace (Valparaiso) also homered for the Mallards for his seventh home run of the season in the victory.
Wisconsin Rapids 7, Lakeshore 3
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Lakeshore Chinooks 7-3 at home. With the game tied at two going ino the bottom of the seventh, Wisconsin Rapids scored its first run of the inning on a wild pitch, and Dustin Woodcock (SIU – Edwardsville) connected on a grand slam to give the Rafters a five-run advantage. Rafters' pitcher Gareth Stroh (Coffeyville CC) threw six inning and gave up one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts for a no decision.
St. Cloud 7, Rockford 6
The St. Cloud Rox took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Rockford Rivets 7-6 at home on Friday night. Rockford broke the 5-5 tie with one run in the top of the seventh, but the Rox scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. With the bases loaded, shortstop Brett Pope (Western Carolina University) singled to score two runs. St. Cloud's Michael Strem (Boston College) reached base on all four plate appearances, as he finished 3-for-3 with a walk and scored two runs with two RBI. For Rockford, Hunter Hargrove (Texas Tech) hit 2-for-4 and scored two runs with two RBI, including his eighth home run of the season.
Mankato 6, Eau Claire 4
The Mankato MoonDogs beat the Eau Claire Express 6-4 in a game that went 12 innings on Friday night. Mankato led 4-3 after four innings, and the score remained the same until Eau Claire tied the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth. In the top of the 12th, Jordan Washam (La Tech) doubled to put the MoonDogs ahead by a run. One batter later, a wild pitch scored another run to give Mankato a two-run advantage. MoonDogs reliever Brian Gadsby (UCLA) threw a scoreless ninth for the win and threw 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowed two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Mankato struck out 17 times in the victory.
Willmar 9, Waterloo 3
The Willmar Stingers trailed 2-0 after two innings but scored nine of the final 10 run in the game to beat the Waterloo Bucks 9-3 on the road. Willmar had plenty of base runners throughout the game with 10 hits, and the Stingers drew eight walks as well. Centerfielder Danny Pardo (Montevallo) hit 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Stingers' first baseman Greg Lambert (Southern Illinois) finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Reliever Bradley Bailey (North Alabama) earned the win with three innings pitched. He gave up one unearned run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
Saturday's Schedule
Waterloo @ Mankato (6:05 PM)
Wisconsin @ Battle Creek (6:05 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Kenosha (6:05 PM)
Duluth @ La Crosse (6:05 PM)
Thunder Bay @ St. Cloud (6:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Madison (6:35 PM)
Rochester @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
Rockford @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
