There are no longer any undefeated teams in the Northwoods League as the Duluth Huskies and the Willmar Stingers lost tonight. The Wisconsin Woodchucks and the Lakeshore Chinooks both had their home run hitters tie for the league lead with three on the young season.
Wisconsin 2, Rockford 11
The Rockford Rivets drew 11 walks and scored five runs in the eighth in a blowout 11-2 victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Chucks scored first in the top of the first when Stevie Mangrum (Virginia Tech) hit his second of the year, a solo shot with one out. The Rivets got on the board in the bottom of the second, but the Woodchucks answered back to take the lead in the third when Mangrum hit his second of the game and third of the season. Rockford then put up five runs in three innings including two RBI doubles. They were able to put up one more in the sixth and eventually opened the game up for five which led to their nine-run victory.
Duluth 1, Waterloo 11
The Waterloo Bucks handed the Duluth Huskies their first loss of the season in an 11-1 victory at home. The Bucks got things going in the fist as they scored four runs off a fielder's choice and a single by Josh Elvir (Angelina). Three more came in the second from a wild pitch and Zach Malis (Grand Canyon) hit his second home run of the season which resulted in a two-run shot. The Bucks kept the Huskies scoreless until the seventh inning when they had an eleven-run lead. The only Huskies run came on an error by the pitcher. Waterloo's starter Nathan Walker (San Diego) threw five scoreless, only allowing one hit, four walks and struck out five to pick up the win.
Green Bay 5, Kenosha 10
The Kenosha Kingfish used two four-run innings to defeat the Green Bay Bullfrogs for their second win of the season in a 10-5 victory. The scoring started in the top of third when Zach Plunkett (Arkansas) hit a solo shot for the Frogs. The Kingfish then responded with an RBI single in the bottom half. Green Bay retook the lead in the third with two runs, but Kenosha answered again for four more in the bottom half. Jack Yalowitz (Illinois) hit an RBI single to start the scoring for the Bullfrogs in the sixth while three errors caused the next three to cross the plate. The Bullfrogs scored two in the eighth from a triple by Aaron Pleschner (San Jose State), but the Kingfish added an isurance run in the bottom half of the eighth. Riley Pelischek (Madison College) came into the ninth for his second inning of work and didn't allow any more damage.
Eau Claire 5, Willmar 2
The Eau Claire Express gave up two early to the Willmar Stingers, but tacked on insurance runs later in the game to win 5-2. Justin Evans (Columbus State) hit an RBI triple to start the scoring in the first and later came around to score on a fielder's choice. The Stingers were then able to tie the game in the bottom half. That was all the scoring the Stingers did as the Express scored single runs in the third, sixth and top of the ninth. Express starter Chase Dreger (Colby CC) pitched five innings, only giving up the two runs in the first on six hits while striking out one to pick up the win. Victor Chavez (Scottsdale CC) pitched an inning, not allowing anything while picking up a strikeout and earning the save.
Rochester 5, St. Cloud 2
The Rocherster Honkers won its second game of the season as they scored five in the first two innings which would prove to be enough for a 5-2 victory over the St. Cloud Rox. The Honkers and Rox both exchanged runs in the first inning. Rochester then got a three-run shot from Ethan Ibarra (St. Cloud State) in the second inning followed by an RBI double by Zach Zubia (Texas). The Rox continued to chip back as Shane Selman (McNeese State) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. The Rochester pitching staff though kept the Rox off balanced all night as starter Hunter Sullivan (Louisville) threw six innings, only giving up three on three hits while striking out six. Drew Slade (Ripon) bounced back and picked up the three inning save while only giving up four hits and struck out three.
Fond du Lac 5, Wisconsin Rapids 13
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters bounce back and put up runs in five innings in their 13-5 victory over the Dock Spiders. Fond du Lac raced out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first two innings. A wild pitch scored two for the Spiders in the first. Andrew Bullock connected on an RBI single in the second followed by a two-run home run by Eric Gilgenbach (Notre Dame). That would be all of the scoring for them as the Rapids started to chip back with three RBI singles in the third. Nick Owens knocked an RBI single in the fifth and later scored on a two-run single to give Rapids the lead. The Rafters would then go onto score in the next three innings including a solo shot from Christian Jones (Campbell) in the bottom of the seventh. Jesse Slinger (Youngstown State) came in for long relief and picked up the win for Rapids as he threw five and only gave up three runs with a ton of run support.
Lakeshore 10, Madison 3
The Lakeshore Chinooks used a seven run third inning to lift them to their thrid win of the season in a 10-3 victory over the Madison Mallards. Lakeshore's third was fuled by Zach Biermann's (Polk State) third home run of the season which resulted in a grand slam. The sixth and seventh run came when Kody Matthews (Marshall) hit a two RBI double. They added one more in the fourth when Biermann reached on an error and drove in a run. The Mallards finally got on the board in the seventh from a bases loaded walk and a hit by pitch in the next at bat. The Chinooks struck for two more in the top of the ninth and the Mallards put up one in the bottom half, but it was too little to late. Lakeshore's Aaron Patton (St. Louis) threw six innings, only giving up three hits, two walks while striking out eight to pick up the win.
Mankato 5, La Crosse 7
The La Crosse Loggers pick up their first win of the season as they scored six early runs on the Mankato MoonDogs. Mankato struck for the first two runs of the game in the top of the second. The Loggers then responded for four in the bottom half with an RBI single by Sage Bruhl (MATC), a two RBI double from Garrett Christman (Butler) and an error by the first basemen. The MooDogs scored three more in the middle inning by small ball from a couple of sac flies and a bases loaded walk. While holding onto a one run lead, the Loggers added an isurance run in the eighth when Ryan Mantle (Jefferson CC) hit an RBI double to left field. Mason McMahon (UW-La Crosse) came into the ninth to pick up the save while striking out a batter.
Battle Creek 6, Kalamazoo 3
The Battle Creek Bombers score four runs late in the game to win its third of the season in a 6-3 victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers. Battle Creek scored first in the second from an RBI double by Jordan McDonough (John A. Logan) and a sacrifice fly. The Growlers scored three in the third from two singles with no outs. The Bombers were able to get ahead and eventually plate the game-winning run in the seventh that started with a a three RBI double from Logan Kaletha (John A. Logan) and a bases loaded walk. The Bombers' bullpen threw six scoreless as Taylor Horn (Wayne State) picked up the win and Jake Hawken (Portland) earned the save.
Thunder Bay 6, Bismarck 5
The Thunder Bay Border Cats won its first game of the season in a one run victory over the Bismarck Larks when they scored four in the seventh which resulted in the 6-5 win. Each team scored a run in the third and the Border Cats took the lead in the fourth from an RBI double by Gabriel Lozada (Hillsborough CC). A wild pitch and an RBI fielder's choice gave the Larks the lead in the fifth and two more in the sixth ended it. Colin Rosenbaum (Belmont Abbey) and Jared McCunn (SIU-Edwardsville) each responded for the Border Cats with two-run home runs in the seventh which resulted in the game winning runs.
Schedule for June 3:
Rochester @ Thunder Bay (6:05 PM)
Bismarck @ St. Cloud (6:05 PM)
Waterloo @ La Crosse (6:05 PM)
Fond du Lac @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM)
Green Bay @ Madison (6:35 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
Battle Creek @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Kenosha (6:35 PM)
Willmar @ Duluth (7:05 PM)
Mankato @ Eau Claire (7:05 PM)